Living in Germany: The new app helping you live like a local

Lockdown living has made many of us take stock of things. For quite a few people, that has meant learning to love the wide range of products and experiences that lie on their doorstep. Together with Shoppi, the app for discovering hyperlocal products and experiences, we discover how Germans have embraced the 'hyperlocal'. 

Discover the many small business and producers around you – download Shoppi today 

A new way of living 

Between the global pandemic and the threat of impending climate change, many Germans have decided to change their habits to be more sustainable – to use products and services that don't create as much of a carbon footprint, and that support local communities. 

At a very basic level, this can be seen in the wide range of weekly fruit and vegetable box services that can be found in most large Germany cities. Market gardeners are able to sell their produce to locals, with a minimum of logistical complications, and with far fewer overheads. 

It's not just basic staples, however. Many young Germans have taken the initiative to start their own businesses that provide life's little luxuries. In Berlin, coffee roasteries like Bonanza Kaffee, Fjord Coffee and Kaffee Neun are providing locals with a huge range of roasts and grinds for every palate. Munich, one of the world's beer capitals, is now home to a new wave of microbreweries such as Forschungsbrauerei, Crew Republic and Richelbräu that keep the locals happy and refreshed. 

Not only do these businesses offer their goods to take home, but also give locals a place to meet, talk and socialise, building stronger community links. 

Download Shoppi, the handheld guide to the wonderful things hidden all around you

Photo: Getty

Small businesses, big dreams

Over the last two years, many Germans have also decided to exchange the corporate grind to become designers and creators. The development of payment providers, web shopping and delivery services has meant that the startup costs of starting a clothing label, or an online homewares store has plummeted. The inverse effect of the hyperlocal revolution, where we focus on our immediate surroundings, is that getting things out into the world is easier than ever. 

Stuttgart's 0711, Greenality and UTMC fashion labels have made waves in their respective fields, while in Hamburg, Elternhaus, Sium and Harm-Jopp are blazing their own trails. Each of their pieces are part of a small run that make a statement, while maintaining an air of exclusivity.

Rather than rush to expand, as many companies have traditionally wanted to do, these creators are happy to maintain a certain local reputation and a workload that allows them a good work-life balance. 

Join the revolution 

Want to become one of the many people in Germany seeking to shop in a sustainable, hyperlocal manner?

While the best way to discover new things is to simply wander and see what you can find, many of us don't have the time to go and explore when we want to support local creators. Reading through magazines and internet sites is another way of discovering what's new around you. But that can also be time-consuming – and a challenge if you don't speak German.

This is why Shoppi is such a fantastic service. Open the app in a major Germany city, and you'll find a number of products and services that both reflect their local communities, and have a flavour you simply cannot find anywhere else. From the grit and urban feel of Berlin, to the bright and colourful Bavarian touch of Munich, Shoppi helps you live like a local, eating, drinking and shopping like nowhere else. 

If you're in Berlin, you can even join the Shoppi Meetup group, and enjoy hyperlocal experiences in the capital. 

You can buy directly through the app, saving time and money and even better, should you be travelling, you can shop from home later, to recapture some of the feel of your journey. 

Shoppi is available for both iOS and Android, through the App Store or Google Play. 

Ready to find the very best food, drink and fashion in your neighbourhood? Download Shoppi today!