Sustainable Blairstown

Buy Local This Holiday Season

Written by Jen Reich

When planning your holiday shopping this year, consider how you can make some of those purchases locally to help keep our economy strong. This year, the Sustainable Blairstown Committee has issued a challenge to the community: make just two purchases locally between Thanksgiving and New Years to invest in your hometown. When you make your purchase, check to see if you can sign a buy local booster that shows your commitment to keeping our local economy healthy and strong.

Below are some gift ideas to consider that you can purchase from your community shop owners. If you have more ideas, please leave your suggestions as a comment below:

• Cards and stamps
• Set of canvas/cloth shopping bags
• Gas card
• Local food items
• Oil change
• Electronics
• Gift certificate to a restaurant or diner
• Framed photo of loved ones
• Snow removal services
• Cooking classes
• Car wash
• Round of golf
• Compact florescent light bulbs
• Yoga classes
• Flowers or hanging plants
• Custom bag filled with local market goodies
• Haircuts, manicures, and pedicures
• Local artisan gifts
• Consignment/vintage clothing
• Fresh baked cookies/pies/cakes
• Glider rides
• Flashlight and batteries
• Tools
• Pizza party for your kids
• Massage/reiki treatment

Please consider shopping locally this year. It is a simple way to strengthen your local economy from the inside out, while reducing your carbon footprint and saving time and energy. Remember, for every dollar you spend at independently owned stores, 68 cents returns to the community – far more than dollars spent at national chains. Make your purchases count this year while investing in your hometown.

To learn more about Sustainable Blairstown, sign up for the group’s email newsletter. You can also attend the group’s meetings each month at Givens Belet American Legion VFW Post. Call Kevin Doell for meeting times and dates at 908-459-5484. If you would like to have a Sustainable Blairstown representative address your organization, give us a call.

Happy Holidays from the Sustainable Blairstown Committee!

This entry was posted on Friday, November 20th, 2009 at 6:26 pm and is filed under Buy Local, Local Economy, Sustainable Blairstown. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.