The practice of shopping and buying locally continues to gain steam across the nation.
Numerous studies have shown that when you "buy local," a significant amount of your investment goes back into the community to make purchases from other local businesses. In addition, here in Duluth, our one-of-a-kind businesses keep our community unique -- they offer a sense of place.
Now we're offering yet one more reason to support those local businesses in Duluth's Downtown Waterfront District.
The Greater Downtown Council is pleased to announce a new four-day event called "Merch Madness." Many of our retail businesses in the central urban core of our community are teaming up to offer specials and promotions during this time. The celebration will take place Wednesday, March 20 through Saturday, March 23 and it lands during a time when the national college basketball tournaments are in full gear.
This is a simple promotion and a great way for the community to once again show its support for our local businesses. Consider this an encore performance of Small Business Saturday, a day many holiday shoppers came out in force across the country and made an impact with their pocketbooks.
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The Greater Downtown Council heard so many positive comments from our member businesses during that one-day event that we decided to step it up a notch and give shoppers a few days to explore many of the unique businesses that will have special promotions to welcome in the spring season.
By investing in our local businesses, you are playing a role in making our downtown healthier and our community stronger. It wasn't too many years ago that our downtown was struggling with high vacancy rates and a challenge in recruiting new retail
businesses to the neighborhood. Now, the momentum is building and new retailers are adding to the vibrancy in our downtown.
It also wasn't too long ago that the nightlife - or even the "weekend life" -- was quite quiet in Duluth's Downtown. Now, it's fun to see people enjoying our city center after hours. A recent visit to a new restaurant on a Sunday afternoon proved that we were lucky to arrive before the rush, as the tables quickly filled with those who had caught on to the fun promotions and great food offered there. There was no question that individuals enjoyed the uniqueness of the establishment and the sense of place.
So, make it a point to visit your favorite business or check out a new one in Duluth's Downtown Waterfront during Merch Madness -- by doing so, you'll play a role in keeping the healthy cycle of investment going in our community.
Kristi Stokes is the president of the Greater Downtown Council in Duluth. Contact her at 727-8549 or by email at kstokes@downtownduluth.com .
