MAYLANDS has something many Perth suburbs struggle to build; a working local economy with independent businesses and real street life.
Right now, it’s under pressure. Every time someone chooses a chain over a local business, a portion of that money leaves the suburb and doesn’t return.
Spending locally means more of that money recirculates through wages, suppliers, services and the day-to-day investment that keeps a place alive.
Spend with a national chain or online, and much of that margin is extracted from the local economy.
• Thibault from Tada Window Cleaning.
That gap matters more than it has in years.
Fuel is one of the most immediate pressures.
Perth remains one of the most volatile fuel markets in the country.
For small businesses relying on deliveries and supply runs, price swings aren’t an inconvenience, they directly affect the cost of staying open.
For local operators, it’s unavoidable.
Some businesses have already spoken publicly about raising prices in response, while behind the scenes many are absorbing as much as they can.
Rent, utilities, insurance, cleaning and public holiday wages all add up.
A busy trading day, even one like Mother’s Day, doesn’t always translate to a strong result once those costs are accounted for.
• Andres and Clare from Insight Dental.
“Costs are rising, but local operators still need to look after their staff. That pressure is real, which is why the MBA matters. We’re not just retailers, we’re service providers, and we can share insights and support each other,” said Rob, Capital Human Resources.
In response, many local businesses are focusing on what larger operators can’t replicate: relationships, flexibility and genuine investment in the place they trade.
Clare and Andres at Insight Dental aren’t a chain, and they’re based on the main strip.
They actively support other local businesses and welcome new operators into the area.
“We see the people around us as part of the same community,” said Clare.
Supporting
“Supporting each other just makes sense.”
That’s also where the Maylands Business Association plays a role, coordinating, advocating and giving small operators a collective voice. It’s what individual businesses can’t do alone.
But it only works if those businesses are still here.
Which brings it back to the everyday decision.
Price is part of the equation, but it’s not the whole story.
The difference between buying local and buying elsewhere isn’t just a few dollars, it’s whether that money stays in Maylands, supports jobs, keeps shopfronts active and prevents the slow decline seen in other precincts across Perth.
“It might cost a little more to spend locally,” said Thibault, Tada Window Cleaning, “but that money stays in the community and gets spent again.”
This Mother’s Day, local businesses are asking people to recognise that where you spend has consequences, for the community and for the future of Maylands.
by SIMMONE SACHE