Gift Local, Gift Good to Make this Holiday Season Count

Fall and winter are busy times for all of us. And after a year of working to build back better from the ongoing pandemic, the 2021 Holiday Season is no exception. Add to that the year-end bookkeeping, social (distance) engagements, busy storefront hours, and personal holiday shopping, it’s no wonder these months fly by. It’s enough to overwhelm anyone.

Your holiday shopping and gifting doesn’t have to put you in a holi-DAZE! Make it easy and make it count by taking advantage of our community resources to gift local and gift good. Our local businesses are here for you, providing solutions while still recovering from supply chain issues and staffing challenges. They are depending on us to put people first before, during, and after the holidays.

Locally-owned, independent businesses keep our economy stable and resilient. It’s these businesses that keep capital circulating, create jobs, and build a sense of place. Shopping at big box stores and ordering from suppliers across the world means that your dollars leave West Michigan. This destabilizes our economy and makes us vulnerable. Not to mention this year brings the added uncertainty of our supply chains. Will your online order be in stock? Arrive on time? And put additional strain on dwindling natural resources?

Put your money where your mitten is and let us streamline your holiday cheer! 

Shift Your Spending

Need inspiration to gift local and gift good? Challenge yourself to gift locally and sustainably! Use these nine actions to shop for products and services made locally, ethically, and intentionally. Your holiday purchases can be a vote for the type of community you want to see! 

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And while you’re at it, why not make it a fun game!? Play along with us! 

Over the next several weeks, Local First will be fleshing out these nine actions and the ways you can shift your spending to locally-owned businesses across West Michigan. Follow along with us on Instagram and Facebook. 

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But you don’t have to wait on us to get start

ed! Shopping early is especially important this year! Use the Local First and/or B Corp Directory to find awesome local and sustainable businesses. 

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Happening in a Neighborhood Near You 

Plug in to our West Michigan neighborhoods to support businesses in a corridor near you. Our neighborhoods are hard at work providing fun and safe shopping opportunities, holiday cheer, and ultimately creating a vibrant and resilient sense of place. Check out what’s happening in these three neighborhoods!

Downtown Holland Parade of LightsSoDiv Shop Hop
Uptown Shop HopCreston Event

Downtown Holland: Santa Claus arrives in Downtown Holland during the annual Parade of Lights escorted by 75 floats, trucks, antique cars, walkers, and marching bands… all decked out from top to bottom in thoughts of sparking lights! This brightly lit holiday procession is fun for the entire family and holiday tradition for the entire community. 

South Division: Get your holiday shop on at SoDiv’s first ever Shop Hop! They’ll have a pop-up location with vendors at 347 Division Ave S as well as lots of unique shops along Division between Fulton and Wealthy. Two days to shop for one amazing event!

Uptown: This year, Uptown celebrates local, with a Shop Hop that will last the season. With public health in mind, Uptown welcomes you to a full month of shopping local, with special outdoor surprises and delights on the first three Thursdays of December. It’s a Season of Shop Hop, and it starts on November 16th.

Creston: Lights on Creston is back. Late Shopping hours, business BINGO game with prizes, window display contest and LOTS more. Kingma’s will have a lot full of tees. Pop by on December 8th to shop Creston Businesses!

Check out these neighborhood offerings and search for more local events on localfirst.com/events

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We’re so grateful for a strong local business presence in West Michigan! Thank you for shifting your spending to local businesses this Holiday Season! 

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