We are in the middle of Buy Local Week in Phoenix and Tucson after a great kickoff weekend! Congressman Harry Mitchell, Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon, and Eddie Basha all showed their support of local business at a press conference at Basha’s in Ahwatukee on Friday. We were also joined by numerous business owners and local farmers and producers, the backbone of our local economy. Tucson threw numerous block parties surrounding local business centers, celebrating some of the local favorites with Black Friday deals, live music, and tons of free giveaways. Many local deals are still being offered in Phoenix and Tucson.

We were fortunate to receive some news coverage during some of these events which I’m collecting here.  With our economy in dire straits, stories on spending your dollars locally are more important than ever!

Tucson

Buy Local Day was a big success in Tucson! With multiple block parties and lots of local business deals, many holiday shoppers were able to load up on gifts while keeping more of their money in the Tucson economy. Click here for a clip from KOLD News 13 coverage

Phoenix

KPHO 5 ran a story with some great coverage of Bookmans and Do Me A Favor, check out the video here! They run over some Black Friday stats followed by the statement that $45 out of every $100 spent at a local business stays in the local economy! The word “local” has recently been claimed by multiple corporations without their having to define the word. True, the spaces from which they sell their goods are local, but the ownership (and therefore the trail of profits) is usually not.  So to clarify the previous statistic, $45 out of $100 stays in our local economy only when spent at a locally owned business. If you were to spend $100 at your “local” national chain store, approximately $13 would remain in the state. That said, it’s always promising to see positive coverage of local businesses and the importance of the communities support!

Some more coverage of Buy Local Week featuring Shaun Breese of Urban Cookies urging shoppers to “think local first.” The rest of the story blurs the lines between “local” (as in located in your area) and “locally owned” (as in the money stays in your area).

12 News ran somewhat of a downer of a story. I’m not sure if all of the folks interviewed were right outside of a mall, but none seemed aware of their options or even the full implications of their choices. Is sending large chunks of our money out of state really “the best deal”? Congressman Harry Mitchell explained how local businesses in turn support other local services, & Rachel at Bunky Boutique scored some points for shopping local. Watch the video below and let us know what you think in the comments.

Here are some cool articles covering this year’s Buy Local Week

Gordon, Mitchell urge people to shop local (The Arizona Republic)

Buy Local Starting Today and Save Moolah (The Phoenix New Times)

Congressman, Phoenix mayor urge Arizonans to ‘buy local’ (ABC15.com)

Buy Local All Week (Downtown Phoenix Journal)

Buy-local effort is about more than shopping (The Arizona Daily Star)

Sphinx Ranch & Kokopelli Winery to Host Free Wine Tasting (EVLiving.com)

Join a CSA, Get Farm-Fresh Local Veggies Every Week (The Phoenix New Times… not really about Buy Local Week but hey, we got ‘em thinking and it’s certainly worth sharing!)

While we focus extra hard on spending locally during Buy Local Week, these practices offer the same great results year-round: unique stock,  personalized service, a diverse culture, and more money recirculating our great state! Search our online directory for whatever it is you’re looking for; banks, retail, coffee, auto repair, you name it.

Shop Local!

The November issue of Phoenix Magazine begins its highlights of 130 Local First Arizona business members.

If you missed the article in print, read their story online. Just in time for holiday shopping and don’t forget to buy yourself something!

Make the Shift

Their “Make the Shift” article also has great pointers on moving your spending into the local economy. Just a small change in your buying habits makes a big difference!

Take a couple of minutes to watch this CNN piece on what locally-owned businesses chains offer that megagiantretailclone stores can’t! Remember to shop locally this holiday season for the truly unique gifts! Not to mention you’ll be doing your local economy a favor.

Our very own Helene Tack representing Local First Arizona gives some reasons to shop locally!  She also shows off some goods from a few of the vendors that will be at our Fall Festival.

We’ve posted a list of all LFA members in Tucson who are represented in the Tucson Weekly’s Best of 2009.  Congratulations to all! View the list here

We have a full list of our members who made the Best of… categories in the New Times. View the list…

A unique event celebrating the Free Tail Bat population in Tucson supported by several Local First Arizona businesses along North Campbell Avenue.
Read about it in the Arizona Daily Star.

Phoenix has been recognized as a great place for start-ups and small business to thrive!  Click the link to read the article from Entrepreneur magazine.

Where to Be an Entrepreneur

10 startup-friendly cities–and their success stories–show how small business is thriving.

A Local First organizer roadtrips across America and find we’re all in it together

Joe Grafton, the founding executive director of Somerville Local First, (a nonprofit network of locally owned and independent businesses near Boston), drove thousands of miles around America visiting various Local First organizations.

Read his great account from Boston’s alt weekly, The Weekly Dig.

Local Love at its Best

A genuine show of local support and a testament to the impact buying local can make, Community Tire has extended a wonderful gesture to its employees and to Bashas‘.  Nearly 50 of all of Community Tire’s employees recently received a personal letter from Community Tire President Howard Fleischmann, along with a $25 gift card and thank you note to Bashas’.

The generous deed reinforces Fleischmann’s unwavering passion for locally owned business, especially in light of the recent struggles Bashas’ has faced during this year’s rocky economic climate.

As the “Always Positive” Fleischmann so beautifully states in the closing sentence of his letter – “We must support local to keep our state alive.  Please think local with every dollar you spend.”

So, thank you Bashas’ and thank you, Community Tire for being a shining example of what it means to be Local First!