Shop Outside The Box

You all know how much I love farmers markets because of the amazing foods and because shopping at them supports local farmers. Well today’s Easy Eco Idea is about supporting local businesses. Even if you don’t have a farmer’s market right in your town you do have a downtown.

What’s great about the shops you find downtown is that most of them are owned and run by people who live in the community.

Plus I’ve found that people who choose to open their store in their community also like to showcase items made from people in the community.

A lot of the same reasons that get me to a farmers market also get me to shop at downtown stores. Just like farmers take pride in the food they bring to the market, shop owners bring that same pride to the items they choose to sell in their stores.

The shops are more intimate and if you shop there regularly you start to build relationships with the owners and people who work there. They get to know you and your likes and just like farmers, will set things aside that they know you would like.

Because they often have items made by local people you’ll be able to find unique gifts that you just couldn’t find at a large chain store.

So shop outside the box and give your downtown shops a try.