Walmart clearly leads the group of big box money makers, but the global company is not alone. Kroeger, Target, and Walgreen are next in a recent online list of the TOP 100 RETAILERS of 2012. Even West Sacramento, California-based grocery chain Raley is on this list, albeit at the bottom. Today, it is almost impossible to avoid buying from giant outlets. However, most of us have heard of unfair labor practices, damage to local businesses, overseas sweatshop suppliers, etc. What are some ways to change these harmful practices that are so widespread in our global economy? There are good methods, bad methods, and super ugly methods to consider.

First, and perhaps best, is when people learn about family businesses within a five mile radius of their homes or places of work. This may mean asking friends and neighbors for recommendations. It may mean driving through shopping center parking lots to identify exactly what is on offer there. It may mean looking in the yellow pages, on paper or online, under the category of needed and wanted items.

Another way to identify outlets that are alternatives to department stores is to Google to find particular items, but be sure to include your location before the name of what you are buying, and then write down the closest stores listed on the google maps. For example, many times I had stopped by a small local Bible store, but it had not occurred to me to buy there. Fortunately, when I wanted to find an Advent candle wreath for a Christmas gift, I first typed in the name of my city and this little store popped up on my Google screen.

It’s also good to know about the farmers markets in your area, especially as we approach the spring weather. Googling the name of your location in front of the “farmers market” should produce a list of nearby places to buy fresh produce, meats, and many other products offered by independent local and regional businesses.

It can be helpful to compare prices between a superstore and a small business. One way to start this may be to track the prices of the items you buy most often. Then when you have time, find out the price of those items at a small store near you. If there is a tiny difference, consider the few extra pennies as your investment to support a strong local economy. If there is a significant difference in prices, you may speak with the small store owner to see if they can run a special offer or make some other competitive adjustment. Also, some small markets like Sunrise Natural Foods in Northern California have discount days and offer up to 20 percent off on those days.

Finally, focusing specifically on improving the business practices of department stores, picketing, and other informational actions can raise awareness of problematic issues, as can posts on social media such as Facebook and Twitter. As long as these methods remain peaceful and courteous, there is no harm, no fault. Unfortunately, there have been some incidents of violence against supermarkets, such as bomb threats in the summer of 2012. * The sooner the practices of large retailers improve, the sooner this danger will pass.

However, nasty methods have sometimes been used against global corporate giants, fictitiously speaking. These murderous methods can help readers to symbolically wind up their frustrations or even energize themselves to take some of the aforementioned good deeds in the direction of improving superstores and, with them, our global economy.

* 88 http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/30/bomb-threats-shut-midwest_n_1718907.html