:: Dave Gorman’s America, without chains

Posted by Joelle on February 4, 2008 | Permalink

It seems that Dave Gorman took part in our recent shop local challenge, albeit on a rather larger scale. At the end of his US tour of his comedy show Googlewhack Adventure, he was so disheartened by the homogeneous experience of the chain hotels he stayed in, he came up with a plan for another US trip. He bought a second hand car, and travelled coast to coast right across the US, trying not to give any money to “The Man™”.

And he’s made the whole experience into a film: America Unchained.

“In other words, no Holiday Inns, no Best Westerns and no Comfort Suites. No Shells, no Arcos and no BP gas stations. No MacDonalds, no Starbucks and no chains of any kind. Just Mom & Pop business all the way.”

I already knew Dave was a man after my own heart, with an appealing sense of humour, and an extraordinary eye for the everyday, now he proves his worthiness in support of independent businesses. Go Dave!

America Unchained is shown on More 4 in the UK, tomorrow night 5 Feb at 10pm, and will be available on DVD on 11 Feb.

Categories: adventure, challenge, shopping
Tags: america, dave gorman, film, shop local challenge, travel

10 comments

:: Say no to monster supermarkets

Posted by Joelle on January 11, 2008 | Permalink

Shop local challenge Those of you who share our belief in the goodness of supporting local shops will be puzzled and disappointed at the findings by the UK’s Competition Commission’s investigation into grocery shopping. Stangely, they recommend that we should have weaker planning laws and more big supermarkets, saying this will improve choice and competition. But hello! They seem to be thinking of competition between supermarket chains and to have forgotten the humble high street, and the local independent shops who are struggling to survive.

Friends of the Earth are campaigning on the issue, and are asking people to write to their local MPs and to the Competition Commission to voice concern, via their campaign page here. I did, and it only took about two minutes.

And wherever you are, remember to vote with your feet and shop local as much as you can.

Categories: challenge, shopping
Tags: campaigns, local shopping, shop local challenge

6 comments

:: Reflecting on the shop local challenge

Posted by Joelle on December 19, 2007 | Permalink

A week ago I set my fellow Four Good Corners bloggers, and any readers who cared to join in, the challenge to shop for a whole week only in local, independent shops. Of course I made the effort myself, and it is time to report back with a few conclusions.
Read more…

Categories: challenge, london, shopping
Tags: shop local challenge

2 comments

:: We Love Local

Posted by Joelle on December 12, 2007 | Permalink

Since this week I’ve challenged my fellow writers (and you readers too) to shop locally this week, it seems a good moment to mention a brilliant site - We Love Local.

:: This is harder than I expected

Posted by Kirsty on December 12, 2007 | Permalink

This week’s Four Good Corners challenge to shop only in local independent shops should be easy in London, surely? Monday I set out, full of bright expectation, with three fairly simple things on my shopping list - toothpaste, deodorant, and muffin cases. I returned with toothpaste. They was deodorant in Portland Wine and Food, but it was the wrong kind. There were muffin cases in Emma Bridgewater, but they were £2.65 (though very pretty - do I love my guests enough to splurge?).

Boring necessities aside, I work very close to Marylebone High Street, which is a veritable wonderland of incredibly expensive indie shops - I think I’ll do some very successful window shopping this week…

Categories: challenge, london
Tags: london, shop local challenge

4 comments

:: Contentious fruit…

Posted by Vanessa on December 11, 2007 | Permalink

Well, so far so good in my attempt at Joelle’s shop local challenge. Though I’m eating a supermarket kiwi fruit… but it’s from before the challenge was issued! Does that mean I’m cheating? The biggest challenge will be my Christmas dinner on Saturday - I need ingredients that I’d normally get entirely from the local Trader Joe’s. Perhaps I’ll try to use mainly the Farmer’s Market, instead?

Categories: challenge, los angeles, shopping
Tags: shop local challenge

1 comment

:: I have to admit…

Posted by Joelle on December 11, 2007 | Permalink

In the context of the shop local challenge I set yesterday, I am in trouble now with my colleague at work, whom I sent out yesterday to get me a Christmas sandwich from Pret a Manger. Mmmm, so tasty, but so corporate. Sorry.

I start tomorrow.

Categories: challenge, shopping
Tags: local, shop local challenge, shopping

No comments yet

:: Shop local challenge

Posted by Joelle on December 10, 2007 | Permalink

Listen up Kerry, Kirsty and Vanessa! And listen up dear blog readers, because I am about to issue the first Four Good Corners Challenge.

The idea for this comes from the people at Wedge Card, who this week have been challenging shoppers in East London to go for an entire week shopping only at local, independent shops. So I set you the same challenge. Do you think you can manage it? No chain stores, supermarkets or Clone Town high street chains. Instead support your local shops.

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