November 23, 2011

Happy Shopping!

Think:

* Your local businesses give back more to the community.
* More of your dollars stay in the community.
* More jobs stay in the community.

Shop:

* You can find anything you need locally.
* You develop relationships locally.
* You can find affordable prices in our community.

Buy:

* For every $1 spent at local businesses, 45¢ is reinvested locally. Non-local purchases keep, at most, 15¢ in your local community.
* Local businesses value, respect and appreciate your patronage.
* More tax dollars go to schools and roads in your community.

More than 1,200 local stores, service providers, restaurants and hotels are participating in Small Business Saturday. The idea is to "shop small," at small businesses with 50 or fewer employees, to fuel the economy.

In Santa Cruz County, more than 500 locally owned businesses are asking residents to spend their money Dec. 1-8, the second annual Shop Local Week sponsored by Think Local First Santa Cruz County.

Participants have a chance to win a $500 package of gift certificates from local retailers such as Bookshop Santa Cruz, Sockshop &Shoe Co., Legs, Dell Williams Jewelers and Palace Art & Office Supply.

Local artists and artisans are organizing holiday fairs where shoppers can find unusual and one-of-a-kind gifts.