Thinking Strategically about Thrifty On-line Shopping
CMN Virtuous Business Solutions from Cathy Gilmore, CMN Marketing & Communications
Each virtuous habit, can have two vices that compete for the light and life it offers. In the case of THRIFT, we see the obvious greedy selfish vice opposing it in the reckless spending of those who indulge in each tasty, shiny or popular temptation that seems impossible to resist. We all can recognize the devastating effects of compulsive shopping, gambling and the like.
But far more insidious is the subtle distortion of thrift that feels like a prudent path, but traps us in a different kind of vice. We’ve all been there. Professional or personal shopping on-line because we are looking for a good deal. Right? But, shopping habitually to get the best deals on ever increasing amounts of stuff can be, sorry to say, greediness dressed in virtuous clothing. We are ever more tempted, and often able to afford, whatever is new, fun and beautiful because it is so cheap. Often with that irresistible bonus of free shipping to boot.
So often in society, our choices often have unintended consequences.
As a marketing professional, author and a virtuous media promoter, I’m very sensitized to the way publishing is influenced by consumer habits. As we shop with a smile with an on-line behemoth so we can get numerous great quality books, movies and more from a distributor that is both quick and cheap, it is a great feeling.
However, choosing to do a majority of our personal and/or professional business with that behemoth, as a buyer or a seller, also enables that company to publish and promote thousands of deeply disturbed violent, occult, and erotic titles in the marketplace...making toxic reading and media more easily accessible than ever before in human history. We don’t realize that when our shopping habitually partners us with a company fostering convenience and cheap price priorities above all else, we often ignore our own subtle participation in that business’ seedy dark side. When we personally experience brick-and-mortar stores that normalize filth and mainstream spiritually toxic content, not to mention corporately champion causes contrary to our faith, we consider ways to shop elsewhere, and tell our friends to think about other options too.
As we wonder what we can do to keep virtues and values from disappearing in society, the answer might be as simple as shopping more often at a retailer that requires driving a car and taking some time, and then interacting with real-life people who share our faith. That action fosters virtue in us by slowing down our impulse purchasing. It also allows us to consider the values of the company we are shopping with - so that we might patronize folks who actually choose NOT to sell certain kinds of things.
Perhaps we can find an amazing Catholic Store that will offer us reading and viewing options that might cost us a little bit more, but will offer deeper and richer value, because by choosing them as our strategic partner in the way we shop, we are assisting in their work of evangelization. The bonus is that when we patronize actual family owned local businesses, we are helping our own community to thrive. Use the CMN Member Locator to shop local in your area.
The reality is that on-line shopping is here to stay. The convenience is irresistible, but perhaps we can look for more options to slow down the pace of our “I must have it because it is such a good deal” shopping that turns thrift into a trap. When we do decide to shop on-line, let’s make an effort to connect with on-line small businesses that share our faith, like the GoodNewsBookshop.com and more. Being responsible with our money can also mean spending it on value and values at the same time. That’s thrifty shopping with a true smile inside.
