Shop Small, Buy Local! Free Printable Hearts for Small Businesses

Our new series of "love for local" hearts is out! We work all year round to educate and spread education about how spending with independently owned businesses is a smart choice for your community. These colorful images each offer a short and memorable message, and can be printed out and saved to use in your holiday promotions or any time of the year.

Free Graphics for Small Business Owners to Promote "Buy Local Season"

"Spend where you live; support the people you care about" - we think this time of the year is all about making a difference with our dollars; spending at the places that matter, and helping to keep people we know in business and thriving. It's a powerful thing to be able to build and improve your own community, isn't it? We think so!

National Entrepreneur's Day | Celebrating Independent Business Owners

It's National Entrepreneur Day, another chance to spotlight small businesses and mention another reason or two about why our independents are so worth caring about, noticing and supporting. These brands, companies, one-of-a- kind stores, landmark shops and destinations; they are the anchors of our communities, the cornerstones and special venues which create countless memories, provide opportunities, and celebrate the people who dreamed big and then made it happen.

"Buy Local, Your State" Graphics - Free Images Encouraging Local Spending (all 50 States)

Greetings, friends! I'm here - smack in the middle of month #11 - realizing it's November 15th already, and trying not to panic (LOL). Lots of holiday graphics have been making their way onto our Facebook page, as well as onto Pinterest and Twitter, but this post is about the "Buy Local USA (your state)" series I did over the last couple of years.

  

November 13th: World Kindness Day

Happy World Kindness Day! I am a huge fan of nice people who take the time to notice little things, go out of their way to check on others, let folks know they are not alone. I always think of individuals like that as people who sort of "live outside of their own self", in an effort to make the world a better place by looking around to see what can be done better, or where they can lend a hand. Those folks inspire and uplift me, and remind all of us that no one is too small or quiet to speak out and start a conversation.

"Buy Local" Shopping Bag Messages for Small Business

"Reflections on spending" from a humble shopping bag..... if shopping bags could write their own messages.....what would they say? How would they explain it's delightful to bring home things purchased from a locally-owned business? I think they would love the opportunity to brag just a little bit about people who take the time and make the effort to "look local" and support real people.

Choosing Better is Local Love in Action

We talk a lot on our Facebook page about "spending where it means more" - AKA, choosing carefully who we give our dollars to - and the importance of daily choices cannot be overstated. There's a tendency to drift towards easy or convenient options, such as pulling off the interstate on a road trip and turning directly into the closest fast food location, as opposed to looking for a small deli a mile down the road, but fortunately we do have the power to make better choices. 😀

Promoting Local-ness: Ensuring An Authentic and Real Flavor for Local Visitors

I thought this was a particularly relevant post from the folks over at Tourism Currents. While they may have had a marketing approach in mind, I think this is super important topic for anyone who wishes to promote their community, along with giving guests and visitors a special and fulfilling experience. So important, in face, that smack dab in the middle of an absolutely insane week, I'm digressing to expand about their short and simple statement.

The Real Reason For Father's Day

I didn't plan to be less active over the last few weeks, nor did I plan on posting so little about spending locally for Father's Day. Until today it wasn't clear to me why both of those things have happened, although there have been multiple times I've been here staring at this page and the words just wouldn't come out.

Support Your Independently-Owned Quilt Shop

Observed each year on the 4th Saturday in January is Local Quilt Shop Day, celebrating independent business owners across the country. In support of locally owned and operated quilt stores, I've created several graphics and images which are free to use to honor the people and places who keep this industry alive and thriving.

Eleven Years of Go Independent, Shop Small (Anywhere, USA)

Today marks 11 years since I had the brilliant and yet foolish idea to believe I could change things (ha ha 😄). Lots of potential, I thought to myself, for what could happen with a mind that runs overtime, a heart that loves independent businesses fiercely, and a person who knows that the pieces of life which made our world a better place are about the change forever. The economy has shifted; people have changed; and for many of us, the focus is no longer on community connections, running into neighbors in local stores, or knowing people who give a hoot about you. But while technology and social media and consumerism have marched on, some things will always stay the same; humans need fellow humans in their lives. We need, although we are hell-bent on denying it, real conversations and interactions to be balanced, complete and less selfish and self-centered....but caught up in the shiny, sparkly world of one-click this and buy now-pay-later options which feed greed, we've forgotten what matters more.

Buy Local Signs for Independent Retailers - Free Printables!

New for 2023! Printable window signs for your city, town or neighborhood to show the love to the independents where you live. Download these simple images, add the name of your local community, and posting on store windows, area bulletin boards, restaurants and at the local chamber of commerce department!