Shop local this season! Great gift ideas for anyone!

I came across a little article on a community website yesterday and I thought it was so great. It was about buying local this holiday season and supporting your own community/country's businesses and services.  It contained some really great ideas for Christmas gifts that anyone would appreciate, so I wanted to take the time on here to share it with you all.

 photo: flickr

Here is a quote from the post:

"As the holidays approach, the giant Asian factories are kicking into high gear to provide Canadians with monstrous piles of cheaply produced goods – merchandise that has been produced at the expense of Canadian labour. This year will be different. This year Canadians will give the gift of genuine concern for other Canadians. There is no longer an excuse that, at gift giving time, nothing can be found that is produced by Canadians hands. Yes there is!  It’s time to think outside the box, people. Who says a gift needs to fit in a shirt box, wrapped in foreign produced wrapping paper?"

Now, this of course doesn't just apply to Canadians, it applies to everyone, no matter where you live.  It got me thinking about a few of the local services and shops that would make for excellent gift-giving.

1.  Salon and Hair services.  As the post said, "Everyone gets their hair cut". Why not head on over to your local salon or barber shop and pick up a gift certificate for a friend or family member? I'm sure they'd appreciate the thought and the feeling of getting a little pampered for the day.  Usually you can use these gift certificates whenever is convenient... another bonus!

2.  Snow Removal.  Living up here, I know I would love it if someone got me a whole winter's worth of snow removal. Think about how much less you'd have to worry!  This might not work for those out in the sunny states, but there is always an alternative.

3.  Maintenance work. Give the gift of local maintenance services to someone who could really use it.  Get your mom a cleaning lady.  Car detailing, oil changes, and washing from a small business. Lawn maintenance and spring cleanup, grass cutting, driveway repairs, landscaping gift certificates from a local garden center, computer repairs or upgrades from a local shop or person... the list goes on and on.

4. Restaurants.  Sure, there are many popular big-name restaurants that would love your business, but what about those local family run businesses?  Give someone a gift certificate for their local restaurant for a nice night out.

5. Entertainment. This doesn't always have to consist of buying big flat screen TVs and new gear for your xbox.  Give your dad a season of golf, your brother a gym membership or karate classes. Why not support that community theatre instead of giving a gift card to a big franchise cinema?

7. Choose local over big franchises.  Do you really need to buy your Christmas treats and food over at the big name grocery store, or Walmart? Look for locally run grocery stores or markets. Market food is the best! They also tend to have handmade gift baskets full of jams, cheeses, etc. that would be perfect for gift giving!

6. BUY HANDMADE!  Support other artisans and crafters marketplaces. These people are people just like you and me, trying to make a living selling handmade things.  You'll be assured that your money has stayed within your community and can feel good about supporting the economy.

 photo: little glitter houses

"...Do you REALLY need to buy another ten thousand lights for the house? When you buy a five dollar string of lights, about fifty cents stays in the community. If you have those kinds of bucks to burn, leave the mailman, trash guy or babysitter a nice BIG tip.

You see, Christmas is no longer about draining Canadian pockets so that money leaves the community. Christmas is now about caring about us, encouraging Canadian small businesses to keep plugging away to follow their dreams. And, when we care about other Canadians, we care about our communities, and the benefits come back to us in ways we couldn’t imagine."

Once you start thinking outside the box, the possibilities seem endless. Just think about all of the local services and shops in your area!!  Grab the little "Shop Handmade" button in my sidebar and spread the love!

What do you think you can buy this Christmas that will stay in your community?