Maker’s Bazaar

Arts and Crafts

Saturday, November 18th

12:00pm-5:00pm

Come to our Maker’s Bazaar Arts and Crafts Show! Are you looking for handmade local art? Do you like to support local business? Come to our 1st of many local Maker’s Bazaars. Local art, hand made jewelry, all-natural skin care, hand-made soaps, one-of-a-kind tarot decks and kits.

Three Reasons to Shop Locally

From literary bestsellers to the latest gadgets, there is no denying that the internet makes it far easier to compare the price of shoping. But some retailers claim the shift is now towards handmade crafts, and buying locally is the message behind Small Business Saturday.

Clare Rayner of Retail Champion says: “Christmas sales can account for between a third and nearly two-thirds of a retailer’s annual turnover. A bad Christmas can mark disaster for a small business. Sadly, it really is a case of ‘use it or lose it’.”

And there are plenty of reasons why it is worth going local for some of your gifts and groceries. We look at three of the best …

1. Your spending will boost the local economy

Research on spending by local authorities shows that for every $1 spent with a small or medium-sized business $63 stayed in the local economy, compared to $40 with a larger business.

High streets populated with thriving independent businesses boost the prices of nearby homes, according to a recent study. The research by American Express found that house prices near a prosperous town centre have risen by an average of $40,000 more over the past decade than other properties.

2. It is the ethical choice

Buying out-of-season produce, like strawberries in December, lowers your eco-credentials. As does eating turkey and carrots that have been flown halfway round the world or wrapped in layers of plastic. When you shop at local butchers, bakers, farm shops and green grocers, it is likely that a decent percentage of the produce has had a short field-to-fork journey. Along with supporting local farmers, it means the food is likely to contain more nutrients and have less packaging.

3. They sell quirky, one-off gifts

Independent shops often stock items which are made locally and aren’t available elsewhere: buy a dress by a fledgling designer and there is little chance of turning up to the office Christmas party wearing the same as someone else.

When it comes to gifts, quirky one-off items are a major plus of independent shops. Give your niece or nephew a handmade toy and at least it won’t be identical to everything they already have.

There’s also the hyper-local gift choice: independent bookshops often stock titles by local authors that aren’t yet on the shelves of the major chains, says Carol Thompson, co-founder of Chorlton Traders, a group of independent businesses based in south Manchester. “Local shops also support local artists and designers, food producers and growers, so you’re buying products absolutely unique to your area.”