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 slammed after she urged Aussies to abandon 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 any non-essential spending – was ‘stressful’ for small businesses already under the pump.

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

‘This no buy trend is really freaking me out because people are trying to save money – which I 100 per cent agree with – but it’s scaring me because it’s going to hurt small businesses. That’s me,’ she said in a TikTok video this week. 

‘Are you not buying coffees to save money? Are you not going to the gym to save money? These are small businesses. What else are you not spending money on?

‘How about we start a new trend to buy from small businesses, instead of the big guys like Coles and Woolies?’

But Aussies were quick to point out that millions of households were already struggling to afford the essentials 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 under because it’s a non-essential, so be it, that’s the risk you took when you started it,’ one woman commented. 

Bonnie and her twin sister (pictured) own a coffee shop in Kunda Park, in the city’s west, and have run a catering coffee and cocktail business out of a vintage caravan since March

‘$15 dollars for two coffees add that up a couple of times a week the gym cost a week! Gyms aren’t small businesses. I don’t know what land you’re from but people can’t put food on the table,’ a second wrote. 

‘Love how you turn comments off on videos where people disagree with you. We are all out here with two and three jobs just trying to survive. If your business is struggling maybe join us,’ a third wrote.

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

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

‘I know everyone’s struggling at the moment, and I’m one of them. Viewers don’t know I also deliver flyers on weekends and run a finance business, because I don’t put it online.

‘The point I wanted to get across in that video is save your money where you can but don’t forget about the little guys.’

Rather than cutting all ‘excess’ spending, Bonnie urged Aussies to instead consider how they can save while still supporting local businesses.

‘We’re family who are working to support our kids and hustling every day to make every dollar we can,’ she said.

Bonnie co-owns a coffee shop in Kunda Park and a catering coffee and cocktail business out of a vintage caravan (pictured)

‘There are big businesses that already have million-dollar bank accounts, they’re already got the clientele. Everyone has to go to Coles and Woolies at some point, but there’s other ways to save.

‘I’ll be finding better ways to manage my money but I won’t be forgetting about buying a coffee at the local coffee shop, I won’t be forgetting about going to the market for my fruit and vegetable shop.’

Bonnie encouraged Aussies to look for cheaper insurance to save money instead of stopping their support for small businesses.

‘I totally understand everyone can do what they want. I know everyone’s struggling at the moment,’ she said. 

‘It was just my idea to say, don’t forget about us.’

Bonnie said some people over the festive period had already began cutting back their spending at her café.

However, some dedicated customers ‘wouldn’t give up their daily coffee for anything’. 

‘I wish everyone the best with their savings goals this year,’ Bonnie said.

‘I’m in the same position, everything is so expensive. I’m trying to cut back on costs as well. I just won’t cut back on supporting the smaller guys over the bigger guys.’