My new hedgehog paper clip holder!
There's a great design store next to a coffee shop where I have a lot of morning meetings. It's usually not open by the time I'm done and I'm left peering and drooling on the window. Today they had the door open to let in some of our fantastic weather.
I came in with the breeze and spent oodles of money on some really sweet stuff. It was like shopping in the MoMA gift shop!
Super fun!
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Uncategorized | Tagged: independent retailers, local first, shopping | 
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Posted by amyhftw
Today is the ceremonial kick-off for the online holiday shopping season. Planning on buying anything today? What good deals have you found?
Over my lunch hour, I bought DadH his annual gift of super warm socks and gloves from REI.com. Today's the last day of the Winter Sale and there were lots of high-tech warm socks on sale. Yay!
I called him to check his shoe size and he said he's wearing last year's socks right now, on his way out to the barn. MomH told me that everytime he puts on those socks, he happily says, "These are the socks Amy bought me." Then he goes on about how warm they are, how well they fit and how they are nice and padded in all the right places.
Before anyone reminds me that online shopping doesn't contribute to local sales tax revenues which in turn fund programs and services in my community, I'll add that when these arrive at my Tempe store for pickup (free shipping!), I'll make a few more purchases of things I need to get anyway.
This will be my only online purchase of the season. I'll be buying the rest of my gifts from the Heard Museum gift shop, Changing Hands bookstore and other local establishments.
10 Comments | Uncategorized | Tagged: christmas, cyber monday, dad, family, local first, qotd, shopping | Permalink
Posted by amyhftw
Our governor, Janet Napolitano, has decreed June 30 – July 7 as Independents Week in support of locally owned businesses! Shop local and keep your money in your community wherever you may be. It's what makes a place a place and keeps our country from turning into the United States of Generica.
I already try to spend my consumer cash in independent/local operations and even try to shop mostly in Tempe to keep my sales tax dollars in my community. See, out here each municipality has its own sales tax. It's a bit wacky, but I'll go with it.
Why should you shop local? Here's a list of reasons from Local First Arizona. I'll cut and paste them here in case you are link-averse. 🙂
Every time you make a purchase, you're exercising power of choice.
The choice is yours. You have the power to strengthen and enrich your community.
For every two jobs national retailers bring to a community, three jobs are lost as a result of local businesses closing down.
When you shop locally-owned businesses, your money is re-circulated over and over and creates up to 75% more tax revenue to our community and state.
Independent businesses raise the standard of living in your community because they take their profits and buy products and services from other local businesses, thus creating more and more tax revenues needed for the community to thrive.
Millions of dollars of tax revenue subsidies handed to chains by financially-starved local governments drain even more tax revenue from our community and state.
Blighted empty shopping areas are created in your community when chain stores re-locate to a more lucrative shopping center, or leave altogether. Literally hundreds of big stores are abandoned each year across the United States.
Independent businesses are unique enterprises that contribute to the character of our community by offering a more diverse selections of goods and services.
Independent businesses provide meaningful service with a personal touch. It matters to them that you are satisfied and will come back again.
Carefully planned predatory pricing practices have allowed national chains to establish virtual monopolies as they drive local competition out of business. And then they raise their prices.
Make a decision to find and patronize a locally-owned business, wherever possible.
Dine at a local, independent restaurant and treat yourself to a unique and personal dining experience.
When you shop online with out-of-state companies, it doesn't contribute a dime to the local economy. So check for members who offer the same products, and some even deliver.
Look for the Arizona Chain Reaction / Local First Arizona logo when you shop and tell other independent businesses about Local First Arizona.
Use our business directory to locate businesses offering specific goods or services, or you can view a complete list of Local First Arizona member businesses and the categories in which they are listed.
Tell your associates, family, and friends what is happening and why. We all create our communities. Let's create strong and vibrant communities as a legacy for those who follow.
20 Comments | Uncategorized | Tagged: arizona, community building, independent retailers, independents week, local first | Permalink
Posted by amyhftw
It Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time 