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Buy LocalThe BIG Blog

How to Be A Localist for the Holidays

By November 25, 2015February 12th, 20214 Comments

This time of year is full of lists for things to buy and people to buy for: the co-worker party, the relatives, the kids, the neighbors, the wife, the boyfriend, the girlfriend, the dog…

And all of this while trying to support your local economy. What’s a localist to do?

  • Read local. I live in a town of writers and local publishers. Buying from local authors boosts their bottom line and their street cred; buying from a local publisher who publishes local authors increases your localist street cred. Buying a local author published by a local company sold in a locally owned bookstore? Gets you gold stars! Kids books, cookbooks, novels, history books, coffee table books ­– all make great gifts. Ask in your local indie bookstore for local publishers and local authors.
  • Get boozy. It’s a pretty good bet that your city has at least one new brewery or distillery where you can buy six packs or samples of their new products. Try pairing a local beer or spirits with some local recipes, too. See #1 for local cookbook ideas. They often have fun t-shirts or glassware, too, that make good gifts.
  • Local eats and treats. Does your local farmers market have gift cards? Mine does. Help your friends and family experience local, delicious, healthy food and meet a farmer in person. They can buy produce, dairy, meats, and prepared foods in most cases. It’s a great way to introduce someone to the farmers market or boost their spending for their weekly shop. Wrap the gift certificate in a canvas shopping bag from your farmers to encourage their shopping excursion.
  • Repairs are sexy. I am one of those people who drops off all their clothes to the tailor or for repairs all at once, in armloads. Check if your local dry cleaner or repair shop has gift certificates. Because, buying them an ugly new sweater is a bad idea. Don’t stop at clothing repairs or missing buttons. Find out if your friend has a broken appliance or bike or something that has been stored in the “to be repaired” pile in the garage and sneak a way to get it fixed for them.
  • Bakeries, pastries, cookies, oh my. How about buying local baked goods from your favorite bakers for holiday parties, gifts, and more? Combine them with other local foods and make a fun basket of local foods. Better yet, spend a couple Saturdays baking your own and making up gift sets for your sweet-toothed friends.
  • Hardware isn’t hard. Some of my local hardware stores (True Value and Ace are both locally owned cooperative buying stores that contribute to the local economy) have some pretty nice gifts for everyone – for the home-repair folks who love gadgets, for the gardeners, for the home DIYers. Get creative and stroll through your local hardware store and find some fun ideas.
  • Make ‘em smell good. Farmers markets and craft markets often feature locals making some pretty amazing body products. I found a strawberry body scrub made with organic strawberries that smelled so good I wanted to put it on my toast. Look for locally made candles, too.
  • I said it last year, and I’ll say it again – give the gift of an experience. Pair up a movie gift certificate with a dinner gift certificate at a local favorite eatery and have a night out with someone. Give classes to things lead by local instructors. The instructors will appreciate it and so will your giftee.

Keeping it local doesn’t have to be hard, you just have to think about your community first and get creative. Choosing to support the businesses, artists, instructors, bakers, farmers, in your own community is a gift that keeps on giving back to your local tax base.  Got a localist gift buying challenge? Email me! I’ll help you source locally.

 

Happy holidays!