This site provides online stores and shops with a local marketplace to promote goods and special deals.  It gives local land-based shops the ability to compete against online stores. Vendors can issue coupons, offers and promote their weekly adverts. Shop Local is means for sellers to access savvy shoppers who live locally and like to research before they buy.It all sounds quite good at first, but then you when you think about it, where are the small local businesses without websites or the individuals selling new or second hand goods?

There is questionable value to a ‘local’ marketplace that only draws in stores with websites.  We wonder if there is actually a need for a local marketplace that signposts shoppers to online stores that people can purchase from whether they are local or not.