Aussie gets eaten alive on social media for blasting an alarming trend sweeping Australia – as she points the finger at Coles and Woolworths

A small business owner has been criticized after she urged Australians to ditch the ‘no buy trend’ and shop at the ‘little guys’ instead of Coles or Woolworths.

Bonnie, the co-owner of Sunshine Coast business Bubbles and Brew, claimed the ‘no buy’ trend – which encourages shoppers to cut back on non-essential spending – ‘stressful’ for small businesses that are already under pressure.

The 38-year-old and her twin sister own a coffee shop in Kunda Park, in the west of the city, and have been running Bubbles and Brew from a vintage caravan since March 2024.

“This no-buy trend really scares me because people are trying to save money – which I agree with 100 percent – but it scares me because it’s going to hurt small businesses. That’s me,” she said in a TikTok video this week.

‘Don’t you buy coffee to save money? Don’t go to the gym to save money? These are small businesses. What else don’t you spend money on?

‘Will we start a new trend of buying from small businesses, rather than the big boys like Coles and Woolies?’

But Aussies were quick to point out that millions of households were already struggling to afford basic necessities during a cost-of-living crisis.

‘People are struggling to make rent and put food on the table. A business is an investment and if it goes bankrupt because it’s not essential, that’s the risk you took when you started it,” she said.

Bonnie and her twin sister (pictured) own a coffee shop in Kunda Park, in the west of the city, and have been running a catering coffee and cocktail business from a vintage caravan since March.

“$15 dollars for two coffees, if you add that up a few times a week, the gym costs a week!” Gyms are not small businesses. I don’t know what country you’re from but people can’t put food on the table,” wrote a second.

“I love how you disable comments on videos where people disagree with you. We’re all here working two or three jobs and just trying to survive. If your business is struggling, maybe join us,” wrote a third.

Bonnie told Daily Mail Australia on Thursday that her comments had been misunderstood.

“I didn’t say that with any malice – and it’s not just my business I’m concerned about, all small businesses will be affected,” she told Daily Mail Australia.

“I know everyone is having a hard time right now, and I’m one of them. Viewers don’t know that I also deliver flyers on weekends and run a financial company, because I don’t put it online.

“The point I wanted to make in that video is: save your money where you can, but don’t forget the little guys.”

Rather than cutting back on all the ‘excess’ spending, Bonnie urged Australians to instead think about how they can save money while still supporting local businesses.

“We are a family that works to support our children and does our very best every day to earn every dollar we can,” she said.

Bonnie co-owns a coffee shop in Kunda Park and a coffee and cocktail catering company from a vintage caravan (pictured)

‘There are large companies that already have bank accounts of millions of dollars, they already have a customer base. Everyone has to go to Coles and Woolies at some point, but there are other ways to get by.

“I will find better ways to manage my money, but I will not forget to buy coffee at the local coffee shop, and I will not forget to go to the market for my fruit and vegetable shop.”

Bonnie encouraged Australians to look for cheaper insurance to save money rather than ending their support for small businesses.

‘I completely understand that anyone can do whatever they want. “I know everyone is having a hard time right now,” she said.

“It was just my idea to say don’t forget us.”

Bonnie said some people had already started cutting back on their spending at her cafe over the holidays.

However, some dedicated customers would “give up their daily coffee for nothing.”

“I wish everyone the best with their savings goals this year,” Bonnie said.

‘I’m in the same situation, everything is so expensive. I also try to keep costs down. I’m just not going to cut back on supporting the smaller guys over the bigger guys.”