Buy Nassau and Shop Local This Holiday Season

Purchasing gift certificates from local, service related industries is a great way to shop local this Christmas season.

Shopping local means a bit more than just not shopping outside of Nassau County, Florida. Many items in our stores are not made locally or even in the United States, but if you put just a little bit of thought into your gift giving ideas this year, you truly can Shop Local.

More of your money will stay in the local community if you do business with the local diner rather than with a big chain franchise. The same thing with your mass merchandiser or Big Box purchases… you may be able to find what you need in a local boutique.

Gift Certificates are a great option to keeping your purchases local and they make great gifts:

Hair or nail salon
Tanning salon
Barber Shop
Gym membership
Local theatre
Auto care: car washes or oil changes
Lawn care services
Plant a tree
Fishing Charter
Pressure washing
Rounds of golf, or even putt-putt
Dining certificates to local establishments
How about housekeeping services for a new mom?

Consider purchases from your talented neighbors. Success Simplified by Author Deb Cottle, a CD by Joey and Jeannie or a piece of art painted by Kathleen Maurer make great, local gifts, and it is likely you can get them autographed, too.

Remember the local fund-raising items, too. A Savory Place benefits Micah’s Place and this cookbook is a wonderful gift. You may prefer to make a donation to the Amelia Arts Academy or Joy to the Children instead of buying grandpa yet another silk tie.

Check back with us on Wednesday, November 23rd, as SearchAmelia will be featuring Black Friday 2011 specials offered by your neighbors to help you shop local!