This story was created by #ThisIsTucson and underwritten by TruLocal, an online marketplace helping you shop at your favorite local retailers. Thank you for supporting the organizations that support us!
Shopping local is the gift that keeps on giving.
Thomas Barr, the executive director of Local First Arizona, says that money spent at a local business doesn't just support the owner of that business, it then empowers that person to turn around and hire janitors, web developers and other employees.
"Those are secondary jobs, and they make the world go round," he says. "The more we spend money at locally-owned businesses, the more dollars we recirculate in the city we are in."
That's true even in the best of times. And in these 2020 times, our local businesses need our support now more than ever.
Barr adds that shopping local requires a change in habits that can be overwhelming. So instead of trying to overhaul all of your spending habits, start small. He suggests considering which gifts you can purchase from a local business or consider finding a Tucson-owned spa or salon when you're looking for those kinds of services.
He also adds that if you have been cautious about in-person activities, local businesses are way more likely to work with you and communicate the details of their own safety procedures. At this point, many local businesses have online shops, curbside pickup and contactless payment options. And if you're not sure or have special circumstances, you can just call.
"The owner is probably one person away from who you're talking to, rather than reaching out to a big box store and you're talking to an employee and a manager and all of these scenarios, you can talk directly and straight to the business," he says.
So, now that you're ready to shop Tucson, we reach the hardest part of all. Figuring out what exactly to get your people. Here are a few suggestions.
Handcrafted gifts
This is where shopping local excels. Rather than finding something popular at Amazon or Target, you can gift something unique and handmade from a local artist or maker.
On Nov. 23, Local First Arizona launched a new online marketplace featuring more than 50 local businesses from around the state. The marketplace also has a registry feature that allows your friends and family to curate wishlists. Shop there at shop.localfirstaz.com.
There are actually a number of local markets still happening this holiday season, both online and in-person. Many showcase Tucson artwork and other treasures.
Some upcoming markets to check out include Blax Friday pop-up markets on Friday, Nov. 27 at various locations; Cultivate starting Nov. 27 at the MSA Annex, 267 S. Avenida del Convento; and the Sahuarita Holiday Artisan Market Saturday, Dec. 19 to Sunday, Dec. 20 at the Sahuarita Town Hall Municipal Complex, 375 W. Sahuarita Center Way.
Tucson also has a wide variety of local businesses that sell unique items. Here are just a few ideas: Pop-Cycle Shop; Creative Kind; Artemesia Soaps, Salts and Scrubs; Silver Sea Jewelry; multiple shops at the Mercado San Agustin and neighboring MSA Annex; Qmulative.
Or, you could gift food items, such as wine or beer from local wineries and breweries, tamales from Tucson Tamale Co. or desert ingredients from a shop such as Native Seeds / Search.
Memberships and annual passes
Support local organizations and give your loved ones easy access to their favorite places with memberships and annual passes.
Purchase membership to the Tucson Museum of Art, the Reid Park Zoo, the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, Tohono Chul, and the Mini Time Machine Museum of Miniatures, among many others.
Arizona State Parks also sells an annual pass, which allows day-use access to any state park (including Catalina State Park) for the pass holder and three additional adults.
Gift cards and beyond
Barr says gift cards are great way to support businesses — especially if the gift recipient is unable to go into a store or restaurant in-person right now.
Of course there are retail gift cards aplenty, but Barr also suggests sharing the love with your favorite restaurants — not to mention coffee shops, bakeries, ice cream shops and others.
For gifting experiences, think about places like paint-and-sip studios such as Creative Juice or Brush and Bottle, the Loft Cinema, or a favorite salon.
Or take it a step further and plan for a future staycation, booking a stay at one of Tucson's local hotels such as Hotel Congress, Hotel McCoy or The Downtown Clifton.
"If you think about the unique arts and crafts or experiences local businesses offer, those are rich and special opportunities for you to provide a special experience and show those around you that you're really thinking about them," Barr says.
Shop local. Shop where your heart is
At TruLocal, we know that local matters. Consumers value their community, their neighbors, and have a desire to connect and give back to their communities.
TruLocal is a community-focused e-commerce marketplace that gives consumers an alternative to other national websites and bigbox chains for every day, impulse and gift purchases. We provide a simple and efficient way for customers to see what’s in store at their local shops, buy online 24/7, and to safely pick up at curbside or in-store, or have the items delivered to their home. TruLocal.com — Shop where your heart is.
