How to find everything you need to know to participate in Shift Your Shopping 2011, and support locally-owned independent businesses year-round! These campaigns and ideas are endorsed by AMIBA and BALLE, representing 150 cities and 38,000 businesses across the US and Canada. Please use these materials to help spread the word!
Shift Your Shopping
- Learn about the collaborative effort on the Our Story page »
- Questions? Head to our Contact page & get in touch »
Finding or Starting a “Buy Local & Independent” Group in Your Community
AMIBA – American Independent Business Alliance
About » | See a list of communities » | Facebook » | Twitter »
BALLE – Business Alliance of Local Living Economies
About » | See a list of communities » | Facebook » | Twitter »
Reading Locally
IndieBound – Shop Independent Booksellers online
Find and buy books and e-books online from your local independent booksellers. A resource from the American Booksellers Association.
Website » | Facebook »
Banking Locally
Support Community Banks and Credit Unions
Learn why and how to easily move your money from big banks to community banks and credit unions.
- Institute for Local Self-Reliance Banking Page newrules.org/banking »
- Huffington Post Move Your Money Website moveyourmoneyproject.org »
Local Holiday Campaign Ideas – Pick and Choose
The Shift Your Shopping collaborative is about bringing together ideas from across North America so that local communities can pick and customize the ones that suit them… or just “steal” outright! See if your community wants to participate in any of the following proven campaigns:
Plaid Friday – November 25
Background, press, ideas, and downloadable files to participate in Plaid Friday: the creative, diverse, and joyful independent alternative to big box Black Friday.
Website » | Facebook »
America Unchained! & Canada Unchained! – Kicks off Sat., November 19
AMIBA’s annual Unchained! campaign provides tools to help you spread awareness that we collectively determine the future of our own communities and economy through action as citizens as well as consumers. Get a free campaign guide, downloadable graphics, templates for ads, banners, local proclamations and more!
Website »
Buy Local Week – Nov 25 – Dec 4, 2011
Started by BALLE, Buy Local week is a reminder that we should all take a moment to think first about whether we can buy those gifts at local, independent businesses before heading to the malls and big box stores. Support these critical economic and community institutions first!! Get event ideas, downloadable files and more.
Website »
Sample Local Holiday Advertisements, Events, and Other Ideas
Sample Ads
- Asheville, NC
- Oakland, CA
- Somerville, MA
- Portland, ME
- Slideshow from the Institute for Local Self Reliance
Show us yours! Email a description and link or image file to:
Sample Events
- Ashville, NC
- Oakland, CA
- Holiday Buy Night – Community Shopping Mallternative
- Somerville, MA
- Portland, ME
Tell us about your events! Email a description and link to:
Sample Activities
- Oakland, CA
- Gift guide
- Concierge
- Pledge / Holiday Challenge