The holiday season is quickly approaching. While many of us turn to the major online retailers and the big box stores to check items off our shopping lists, we are asking you to consider a different approach as you venture out to do your holiday shopping. It has always been important to shop locally sourced products. From the personal service you receive, to the economic impact, and all the social connections that are made in between. Join us this year as we, and many others, shop Made in America products this holiday season for our family, friends, and colleagues!

Support Your Community

A major perk to shopping local, is that these businesses are more likely than chain stores to carry products that are locally produced. This could mean that not only are you supporting their business, but you are also backing your community members that make the product being sold in this store. It is additionally assumed that this business is more likely to hire local employees. There is a trickle down effect to shopping local that has a positive impact on numerous members of the community.

It Is Fun to Shop Local

When you shop online or go to a major retailer, you do not always get that personalized shopping experience. By shopping at a business within your community, you begin to learn the employee names, they learn yours, these employees (or store owners) start to learn what type of products you like or do not like. In turn, the employees can now personalize your shopping experience as they get to know you. You then start to bring your friends or family into their store. They build a rapport with the employees. Do you see what is happening here? Being a part of the community is rewarding. And as you build these relationships, you will start to learn more about that family business you are supporting.

The Economic Impact Matters

This is important! When you are shopping at a local business, you are not supporting a large corporation. You are instead supporting a family sending their child(ren) off to college, taking care of their parents, or perhaps they use extra earnings to give back to the local community. Doesn’t that make you feel good about where your money is going?

These businesses also pay taxes to the town/city and the county. This goes to support local public schools, roads, parks, and municipal employees. On top of that, according to the Small Business Administration, since 1990 small businesses have added 8 million jobs. This means that the more you shop within your local community, the more opportunities you can help provide.

Don’t Forget About Shopping Online!

We have mentioned the benefits of shopping at your local brick-and-mortar stores, but keep in mind that there are many online small businesses situated within your community as well! By shopping a small business online, you are still supporting a Made in America business. It still supports and benefits local communities. And it still gives you that same “feel good” moment of knowing where your money is going.

With a large variety of United States based online businesses to shop from, we know that it can be overwhelming! To give you some inspiration, we wanted to share a few of our customer’s businesses with you:

• Southampton Books & Sag Harbor Books | Featuring a virtual bookstore! Shop here
• Bonnie Bishoff Shawl Pins | Project bags for knitters. Shop here
• We’Moon | An astrological planner with beautiful and inspiring art and writing. Shop here
• Mast Books | Used, rare, and iconic books.  Shop here
• Vermont Book Shop | A Vermont local bookstore in business since 1949! Shop here
• Man in Training | Fun t-shirts for boys of all ages! Shop here
• Citizen G | Clean makeup and skincare inspired by youth culture. Shop here
• Foxtrot | Wine, beer, gifts and more. Shop here
• Mutts & Meows | A natural pet market. Shop here
• Studs | A fresh take on ear piercings. Shop here

Not sure what you are shopping for just yet? Check out New Hampshire Made. A website devoted to promoting the great businesses and their products that are made throughout New Hampshire! 

Enviro-Tote encourages you to visit (in-person or virtually) your local stores this holiday season and shop Made in America products. Whether it be your local coffee shop, corner store, boutique, or any other store in your community. We promise you will not regret taking a little extra time to support those that are so close to you. After all, could you imagine your neighborhood without these local businesses?