Many municipalities are realizing that local businesses, attractions and events may benefit from the current high gas prices.
Shop Local! As most people I come in contact with are seeking to minimize their driving costs, this is a great opportunity for local business to stress their high quality and often unique products and services that are becoming much more cost-effective for local community members.
Communities in New Jersey, such as Haddonfield and Moorestown, which are already known for their local shops and leisurely outdoor cafes and restaurants have a distinct advantage in stressing convenience, variety and pedestrian friendly environments.
Others are starting to realize an opportunity to take back some of the customers that were lost to outside regional malls and shopping centers.
While people will still go to a large regional centers, it will be less frequent and more thought out and planned to minimize travel costs -- opening the door for more "spur-of-the-moment" and "immediate need" consumers to be serviced by local businesses and service providers.
Haddonfield, in Camden County, is launching a promotion to buy local and go green, as all of their shops are easily accessible by bike or walking.
A large number of municipalities, such as Medford, in New Jersey and the Delaware Valley have special programs scheduled throughout the year, check your local municipality web site for details.
Here are some resources for finding local festivals, shows and special events that may be near you:
New Jersey Craft Shows, Fair and Festivals
NJ Food and Wine Festivals, Events
NJ Events Search
Festivals.com - NJ
Fairs and Shows - NJ
GoKidsNJ - Things To Do
Top Ten Reasons to Shop Local (from NOSL)
Copyright 2008 by Lawrence Yerkes. All Rights Reserved.
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