Shop Local First in El Dorado County

Why Buy Local?

• BUILD COMMUNITY! The casual encounters you enjoy at independent businesses and the public spaces around them nurture relationships, community cohesiveness, and smiles. They’re the ultimate social networking sites!
  
• ENHANCE CHOICES!  A wide variety of independent businesses, each serving their customers’ tastes, creates greater overall choice for all of us.
  
• STRENGTHEN YOUR LOCAL ECONOMY!  Each dollar you spend at independent businesses returns 3 times more money (source 2) to your local economy than one spent at a chain (hundreds of times more than buying from an online mega-retailer) — a benefit we all can bank on
  
• MORE JOBS AND OPPORTUNITIES!   Not only do independent businesses employ more people directly per dollar of revenue, they also are the customers of local printers, accountants, wholesalers, farms, attorneys, etc., expanding opportunities for local entrepreneurs.
  
• GIVE BACK TO YOUR COMMUNITY!   Small businesses donate more than twice as much per sales dollar to local non-profits, events, and teams compared to big box stores.
  

Reference:  http://www.amiba.net/resources/localhero/

THERE’S MORE THAN JUST WHAT’S IN-STORE FOR THE HOLIDAYS

Consider giving…

• Lessons for cooking, brewing, dance, pet training, computer skills, fitness, foreign language, musical instrument, outdoor skills, first aid, massage, photography, video production, writing, pottery, knitting, painting and other arts.
• Local wines and baked goods.
• Gift certificate to a local independent restaurant, pub, winery or cafe (bonus points if it supports local farmers, ranchers, brewers or wineries!)
• Tickets to a local theater, concert, sports event.
• Donating in recipient’s name to one of their favorite non-profits.
• An online subscription to recipient’s favorite local newspaper or local magazine.
• Credit for a class at a community college or community center recreation program, yoga studio.
• Gift certificate for massage, hair styling, housecleaning, landscaping or other personal services.
• Child care for a play day/night.
• A close-to-home getaway at a special B&B or inn.

Click here to download the Buy Local First Flyer