Sustainable Moorestown and Towni Localistics will be sponsoring Plaid Friday on Friday, Nov. 29, the day otherwise known as ‘Black Friday’. This is the day that millions head to packed malls in search of great Holiday shopping deals.
Plaid Friday is a nationwide movement designed to support and promote independent and locally-owned business, as well as a more relaxed and enjoyable shopping experience the day after Thanksgiving, an alternative to Black Friday. Currently more than 150 communities and organizations promote Plaid Friday campaigns. This campaign encourages would-be shoppers to relax, wear plaid, and patronize locally-owned businesses instead of national retailers and big box stores the day after Thanksgiving. As they say, plaid is the new black.
Plaid Friday is part of a growing and larger movement to shift shopping from national chains and box stores to local merchants and services, in recognition of the vital role these small businesses play in our communities. While Plaid Friday is a campaign that focuses on a particular day, other campaigns such as Shift Your Shopping focus on a specific period of time. More comprehensive ‘shop local’ campaigns are designed to promote local businesses year round.
When individuals shop local, purchase dollars benefit local communities in many ways. Statistics show that for every $100 spent locally, $68 return to the community, while only $43 find its way back from national chains and box retailers.
This means that more of our purchase dollars are funneled back into our community for local schools, jobs, taxes, wages, vital services and other communal needs. Additionally, studies show that communities that actively promote ‘shop local’ campaigns experience tangible increases in economic activity.
Any time communities promote and patronize local businesses, we are building a powerful foundation for sustainable communities. These benefits are not only economic but also social and environmental. Some of these benefits include a reduced carbon footprint, stimulation of the local economy, building relationships with local merchants that can cater to our preferences, preserving the unique character of our towns, attracting other entrepreneurs and skilled workers, preserving one-of-a-kind businesses and greater investment in the community and local charitable organizations.
So what do we do to promote Plaid Friday? It’s simple. At a minimum, just wear plaid on Nov. 29, to the office, around the neighborhood, to class. Wherever you go, just wear plaid! Notch it up a bit and gather your out-of-town guests, wrap yourselves in plaid and leisurely visit our Main Street merchants. Even if you find yourself at the mall, wear that plaid and find your way back to Main Street to finish your shopping, linger over a meal or have a relaxing cup of coffee.
Most importantly, spread the word about the benefits of shifting our shopping to Main Street and away from Big Box. Check out our Facebook page to find Plaid Friday images and page banners to use on your personal or business page and check our website www.sustainablemoorestown.org periodically for ‘shop local’ information and resources.
