Asheville Grown Buy Local campaign kicks off

According to press for the event, “The group’s mission is to build awareness of why independent businesses are essential to maintaining Asheville’s unique character and local economy.  The Asheville Grown Campaign hopes to make it easy for consumers to buy from local, independent businesses.

On Saturdays throughout December, shoppers can look for the Asheville Grown – Buy Local posters in store windows. Some independent business employees will wear the Asheville Grown – Buy Local t-shirts, and t-shirts will be available for purchase at select downtown businesses. (Proceeds from the sale of the shirts goes to LAMA, the Lexington Avenue Merchants Association and will be used to continue to build awareness thoroughout the year via additional posters, a website and directory of independent businesses in Asheville.)

Look for employees wearing the Asheville Grown – Buy Local shirts at:

• Bouchon (62 N. Lexington Ave., 250-1140)

• Vintage Moon (82B N. Lexington Ave., 225-2768)

• Makeup (#135A Grove Arcade, 505-4075)

• Virtue (58 N. Lexington Ave., 254-4200)

• Adorn Salon (58 College St., 225-8828)

• Ox and Rabbit (12 South Lexington Ave., 252-8886)

• Malaprop’s (55 Haywood St., 254-6734)

• Union (18 Haywood St., 259-3300)

• On A Roll Printing (100 N. Lexington Ave., 281-1274)

• Hip Replacements (72 N. Lexington Ave., 255-7573)

• Graphics Four (9 Broadway St., 252-2252)

• The Natural Home (36 N. Lexington Ave., 285-9442)

• Spiritex (61 ½ Lexington Ave. and 16 Haywood St., 254-8949)

• Sante Wine Bar (1 Page Ave., 254-8188)

Want more ways to buy local? If you’re on Twitter, search the hash tag #shopavl for info on local stores, sales and shopping events.

(From the Buy Local campaign) Top 10 reasons to support locally owned businesses:

1. Keep Asheville Unique
Locally owned businesses cater to the culture of the neighborhoods they serve.  Unique businesses are vital to the diverse character of our community.

2. Get Better Service
Local businesses tend to hire people with some knowledge of the product and the customers they serve as well as knowledge of the area and other local businesses.  They tend to provide better customer care by giving special attention to the customers they serve.

3. Reduce Environmental Impact
Locally owned businesses are found within neighborhoods and in downtown as opposed to developing on the fringes of town.  They often result in less travel, thereby reducing air pollutants.  Restaurants tend to rely more (often solely) on local farms and organic quality. 

4. Invest in Our Community
Local business owners live in the community they serve and invest their resources here, in Asheville.

5. Create More Good Jobs
Local businesses, collectively, are one of the largest employers nationwide and local businesses provide jobs for residents in Asheville.

6. Conserve Local Tax Dollars
Small neighborhood and downtown businesses require less public infrastructure and make more efficient use of city services compared to big box stores and shopping centers.

7. Have More Choices
Buy what YOU want, not what someone else wants you to buy.  Independent businesses purchase products and cook the food that the local customers need and desire, not a national sales plan.  This guarantees a more diverse and innovative range of choices.

8. Support Our Community
Local businesses tend to invest on average more of their dollars, services and products back into the community via non-profits and the arts.  They also encourage entrepreneurial growth.

9. Ensure Asheville Stands Out from the Crowd
Asheville is a tourist destination and it is a large portion of our economy.  What makes Asheville unique is what brings people coming back to our town.

10. Buy Local – Support Yourself
For every $100 spent in locally owned stores $68 is reinvested in the Asheville.  If you spend it at a national chain only $43 stays here.  Spend it online and nothing comes home.

—Alli Marshall, A&E reporter