How your Purchase Power Matters to the Economy

Why buying local is one of the most powerful things you can do for New Zealand’s future — and how Rue Avenue is playing its part.

When you shop, you’re not just choosing a product — you’re choosing where your money goes, who it supports, and what kind of future you’re contributing to.

And that choice has more impact than most people realise.

The Economic Ripple Effect of Buying Local

According to research, for every $100 spent at a local business, around $68 stays within the local economy. That same $100 spent with a large overseas-owned corporation? Less than $43 stays in circulation here.

That difference might seem small — but scaled across thousands of transactions, the impact is immense. It’s the difference between supporting local jobs vs. outsourcing them. It’s the difference between a thriving creative sector and one that struggles to compete. It’s the difference between economic resilience — and reliance.

The Cost of Convenience

Big brands can offer slick campaigns and endless inventory — but what’s often overlooked is the long-term cost of those choices. Most of the profits go offshore. Local suppliers get edged out. Small creators are left to fight for visibility in a market dominated by volume and margins.

Meanwhile, New Zealand is feeling the strain. Rising costs, inflation, a housing crisis — these headlines affect our lives every day. And in times like these, keeping money circulating within our economy matters more than ever.

This isn’t about guilt. It’s about awareness.
It’s about understanding that small actions — like choosing where to buy your next pair of leggings — add up.

What Rue Avenue Is Doing Differently

Rue Avenue is proudly New Zealand-owned and operated. Every piece you buy isn’t just supporting one brand — it’s helping sustain a growing ecosystem of local creatives, suppliers, and talent.

When you shop Rue, you’re helping:

• Keep business and design local
  

• Create jobs and income for independent contractors
  

• Support slow, considered production over mass volume
  

• Fuel long-term growth in the New Zealand fashion and manufacturing space
  

• Champion women-led business at a time when local entrepreneurship needs backing
  
  

We believe in building something with lasting value — not just in your wardrobe, but in our economy.

Conscious Shopping Is Powerful

Choosing to buy from a brand like Rue Avenue isn’t just a fashion decision — it’s a vote for the kind of future you want to live in. One where small businesses don’t just survive — they thrive. One where New Zealand talent has the space to innovate, grow, and lead.

We’re not here to mimic the giants. We’re here to offer something that feels closer to home — because it is.

Every purchase is a seed planted in the soil of Aotearoa. And together, those seeds grow.