Get Engaged

Community Members, Shoppers, Everyone

Businesses, Artisans, and Local AMIBA & BALLE Affiliates

Join / Get involved in your local AMIBA or BALLE chapter.

See if your community has one: AMIBA Communities | BALLE Communities

Participate in Shift Your Shopping

  • Download a poster for your store
  • Have your Facebook fans Like the Shift Your Shopping page
  • Have your Facebook fans Share a Shift Your Shopping image
  • Have your Facebook fans Attend the Shift Your Shopping event??
  • Tell your Twitter followers post their independent shopping experiences with the #shiftyourshopping hash tag
  • Tell your business and artist colleagues and encourage them to join you in the movement
  • Approach your local independent newspaper for ways to partner, such as a Shift Your Shopping co-op ad with other local businesses or artists
  • Share Shift Your Shopping and other Shop Independent information in a newsletter
  • Send a press release about what you’re doing – see press release dates and templates

Participate in other campaigns

  • Plaid Friday
  • America Unchained
  • Buy Local Week

Get ideas from other communities

See the Resources page for sample advertisements, slogans, events, and more from other cities (coming soon)

  • Get the Facts and Inspiration

    Check out the Our Story page to learn how shopping local and independent is the key to rebuilding our economies and preserving our unique communities.

  • Shop Independent and Local

    Do your holiday shopping with your local independent businesses! Here’s how:

    • See if your town has an AMIBA or BALLE affiliate with a local directory

      • Most affiliates have a directory of businesses
      • Visit the AMIBA website and the BALLE website to find out if your city or town has one

    • Choose neighborhoods and artisan events over malls and shopping centers with chains and big box stores

      You are more likely to find locally-owned independent shops in neighborhoods than in malls and shopping centers

    • Not sure if a business is independent or chain? Ask!

      Call the business or ask at the counter, if that person doesn’t know, the manager will

    • Support non-profits and charity shops in your town

      Many cities and towns have non-profit organizations that sell new, used, or artisan items to support their causes

    • Only shop online if it’s with independent businesses

      Shopping online is easy, but is often with chain stores, and often means sending money straight out of your community

      Luckily there are some options that help everyone shop with independent businesses online, and some communities even have their own independent online shopping options.

      • See if your own town has online shopping options.
        • Check with your BALLE or AMIBA chapter, or do some web searches, and ask around.
      • Buy books and e-books through independent booksellers online
        • Indie Bound allows you to buy books and e-books online from independent booksellers across the country!
        • http://indiebound.org
      • Look for local artisans on Etsy
        • Etsy has lots of fun handmade and upcycled items for sale online from independent artisans, and you can search by geography. See who’s making and selling cool gifts in your neighborhood.
        • http://etsy.com

  • Spread the Word & Share the Fun!

    To make real change, we all need to act AND spread the word to others. Tell everyone that you are shifting your shopping this holiday season and why. Here are easy ways to do so:

    • National

      • Like SYS on Facebook
      • Share the SYS image on Facebook
      • Tweet about your shopping plans and experiences, and use hashtag #shiftyourshopping when you do
      • Submit a story about your shopping plans and experiences on theOur Story page

    • In Your community

      • Facebook, Twitter, Sign up for Mailing Lists, Forward emails
      • Tell them in person
      • Invite your friends to shop local with you – explore neighborhoods or shopping events together
      • Tell a story when you give a gift
      • Tell your shops and artisans why you chose shop there: Tell them that your are “shifting your shopping” and mention your hometown’s own organization or slogan if there is one.
      • Link to this site from your business site; and include it in your company newsletter

Share this page & help spread the word!