Is anyone else tired of all the Black Friday advertising? Does our demographic even participate in the mayhem that big retail giants have created? Watching the news stories of frantic shoppers, fights over toys and mob scenes makes me think we’ve lost sight of the holidays all together. This is not what Christmas shopping is all about. While living in Germany as a child, I recall our family bundling up and heading into Stuttgart to visit the Christmas Market. Here we’d stroll around sipping a warm beverage while perusing the local craftspeople’s goods.
This “shopping season” as they refer to it now, we suggest slowing down a bit, focusing on local businesses and supporting those that are a part of your community. These are the folks pursuing the American Dream. Probably overpaying for rent on Main Street and spending sleepless nights checking inventory. Frustrated as they observe shoppers try on a jacket, take a picture of the price tag only to buy it on Amazon for $5 less. While putting a few more bucks into the pocket of someone already worth $109 Billion dollars. And someone not worried about making the next rent payment.
We’re not saying Amazon is bad. I order from them regularly when I need something I can’t find locally. However, Scott and I do make a concerted effort to support local businesses. Below are a couple of recent articles focused on local businesses in our ares. This Saturday, we recommend you head downtown, grab a local coffee and check out the shops in your community. That’s where you’ll run into friends, spend time together as a family and bring back the true meaning of Christmas.
Buying Local:
Shaggys Skis
Located at the southeast end of Lake Charlevoix is Boyne City Michigan. A city that comes to life in the summer with several small boutique shops, friendly people, and great restaurants that offer a killer sunset over the lake. With a population of less than 4000 people, Boyne City is the epitome of a quaint Northern Michigan town. It’s also the home of Shaggy’s Copper Country Skis. A small, family run ski manufacturer that build from their passion for the sport, some the raddest boards in the Midwest. read more…
NeoMag
At The Gear Bunker, we always prefer Made in the USA products when available even if it costs a little more. It’s even more fulfilling when you can shop Made in the USA products local to you. I’m not talking about big box stores local to you, I’m talking about the small business, who took a chance on the American dream, put the work in to develop a product/brand and is now contributing to society and their family. For me that local business is NeoMag. read more…
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