Actually, we should probably title this post, ‘why you should buy local-made products’ and not just Thai products. However, since we live in Thailand and over 32 million tourists expecting to arrive in the country in 2016, this post is focusing on locally-produced Thai products.
Everyone knows that buying local products and supporting local communities is the right thing to do. But why? Here are the benefits to you and the producers.
They are unique
Local products are unique to a specific area, which means that they are often rare to find anywhere else. In Thailand, you will find fruits, vegetables, household items, crafts, pottery and even designer items that are particular to one area.
Ever heard of OTOP? It means One Tambon One Product and it is a program aimed at supporting the locally made and marketed products unique to each Thai Tambon or sub-district.
Keep an eye out on ThaiTambon.com on latest news and events of the OTOP.
They are made with love, sweat and tears
People who create these products, do so with passion. Obviously they also need to make a living but for them profits margins are not important. They aren’t distracted from it so they focus on quality and really put the hard
Have you ever seen a Thai woman weaving silk the traditional way? Or an old man making a Tuk Tuk replica with aluminum wires? It takes hours if not days.
They are generally better for the environment
Locally-made products, whether in Thailand or anyone else typically means they are create with eco-friendly materials. Mass-production often means that chemicals are being used in massive factories, which can really harm the environment.
Think of food. The more food that is grown organically and locally, less chemicals such as and fertilizers are used, which means they are better for you and the environment.
It’s better for the economy
When you buy local stuff, the money stays in the community. This boosts local economy whereas if you were to spend in internationally-owned or private-owned companies, it boosts exports/imports and more money goes into private pockets.
It’s Cheaper
For you as a consumer, it’s a lot cheaper to go to the local producer or seller. Big chain markets and malls slap on excess prices. This is pretty obvious and nothing new but we often tend to forget this. It might not even be our fault especially if you live in the city where there are more shopping malls and supermarkets than local stores. I know that is the case for us so we often choose convenience over everything else.
