Shop Local. Dine Local. Spend Local. Enjoy Local. In other words – put your money where your house is!
Old Town Business Association is excited to launch its shop local awareness program in the City of Manassas. Old Town Manassas is predominantly made up of independent, locally owned businesses – from unique shops, an amazing variety of restaurants, upscale salons and a spa for pampering yourself to artisan’s studios and artist’s galleries that showcase some very amazing local talent. On most days the individual attention and personal service you receive will be provided by the owners themselves.
Besides being a much more enjoyable and relaxing experience, shopping local has financial benefits as well. In doing their research, the Old Town Business Association’s committee found some interesting statistics about where your dollars go. Did you know that if you spend $100 in an independently owned store $68 is returned to the community? Now, if that same $100 is spent in a big box chain store it only results in a $43 return. And if you spend that $100 online – none, nothing, zero comes back to the community! Those are some pretty amazing statistics but, besides the financial return, there is a much bigger investment to be realized.
Shopping local isn’t just about spending your money in a local business. It is supporting your neighbor, your friend, your neighbor’s friend – because the people who own these businesses are the same ones you see at your neighborhood grocery store or at the high school football game. You are making an investment in your community and creating the sense of place we all strive for. The best part is how simple it is for you to support your local businesses in Old Town Manassas. There are businesses open for you to shop, dine and enjoy every day of the week and a centrally located 500 space garage makes parking easy.
There are some special events coming up in the next few weeks that celebrate and promote local, independently owned businesses. Old Town Business Association President, Joanne Wunderly, invites you to “join us Saturday, Nov. 24 as we participate in Small Business Saturday, a national promotion sponsored by American Express, and again Sunday, Dec. 2 when we host our Annual Merry Old Town Merchants Open House. And,” she says, “look for more Old Town events and promotions in 2013.”
It takes YOU to start the trend. So what are you waiting for?
Old Town Business Association is a nonprofit organization whose membership is made up of retail and service businesses and restaurants located in Old Town Manassas. They hold monthly breakfast meetings on the second Wednesday of the month at 8 a.m. upstairs at City Tavern. For membership information, visit their website at www.manassasotba.com.
Check out the local businesses here.
For more information contact Christine Finnie at 703.369.3400 or email whimsicalgalerie@verizon.net, or contact Joanne Wunderly at 703.335.7711 or email joanne@cavtel.net.
Submitted by Christine Finnie
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