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Local shopping is hot
I entered the phrase “2010 trends buy local” into Google, and got back 9,120,000 results, a pretty good indication that buying local is going to be a pretty big deal in the coming year, and probably well beyond.
Money is tight, though, and it can be hard to pay even a few more cents for a product purchased from a locally based retailer instead of a national chain. Multiplied by thousands of transactions, however, those few cents can make the difference between survival and failure for the local businesses that keep our neighborhoods and state economically strong. So I’m making my resolutions for the coming year public this year, in the hope that they might catch on.
And here they are:
1. At least once a month, I’ll buy my food at a “native Colorado” grocery. These include -- but are by no means limited to -- Sunflower, based in Boulder; Tony’s Market, based in Denver; and Vitamin Cottage Natural Grocers, based in Golden. No matter where I shop, I’ll try to make sure there’s at least one “made in Colorado” product in my cart. Websites with more information on Colorado food products include coloradolocalfirst.com and coloradoproud.org.
2. I’ll make at least three visits this year to a farmers’ market. Throughout the year, I can visit the Urban Homesteading Indoor Farmers’ Market, which offers foodstuffs from local farmers and food purveyors from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Saturday at 200 Santa Fe Drive, www.denverurbanhomesteading.com. Colorado’s seasonal farmers’ markets start up in May and are listed at coloradoproud.org.
3. I’ll patronize fast-food operations based in Colorado, which include Chipotle, Good Times, Heidi’s, Kokoro, Noodles & Co., Qdoba, Quiznos, the Spicy Pickle and Tokyo Joe’s, among many others. I’ll also choose single-location independent restaurants over chains such as Chili’s or TGIF.
4. When I’m looking for a latte, I’ll shop local at Boyers, Common Grounds, Daz Bog, Hooked on Colfax, Ink! Coffee, Kaladi Bros., Peaberry, Stella’s or any of the dozens of other locally based coffee spots.
5. I’ll fill my gas tank at a station that also does auto repairs. I usually put about 10 gallons of gasoline into my tank every three weeks or so. If I pay an extra 15 cents a gallon by filling up at Bonnie Brae Conoco instead of Bradley, it will cost me around $25 a year, a small price to pay to help subsidize one of the few remaining neighborhood car repair shops in Denver.
Now, on to the sales
The National Western Stock Show, Saturday, Jan. 9, through Jan. 24 at the National Western Complex, nationalwestern.com/nwss/comexhibit/exhibitors.php.
If you’ve never stopped by to look at the commercial exhibits, you’ve missed a ton of shopping fun. Independent retailers pour into Denver from throughout the western United States and Canada, providing a kind of cowboy bazaar filled with belt buckles, saddles, spurs and other great stuff you just won’t find at Kmart. Colorado-based exhibitors include Rocky Mountain Clothing Company, of Denver; JB Saddlery, of Fort Lupton; Rocky Mountain Signs of the Times, of Lakewood, and Steamboat Ranchwear, of Steamboat Springs.
The Bookies bookstore, 4315 E Mississippi Ave., 303-759-1117, www.thebookies.com.
All 2010 calendars and selected holiday items are half price. Any customer who makes a cash purchase routinely gets a 15 percent discount.
Leta’s Loot, 15256 E. Hampden Ave. Aurora, 303-617-5668 (LOOT)
Leta's Loot is extending its food drive because food pantries remain bare. Through January, bring in one can of food for 5 percent discount or three cans for a 15 percent discount on gently used consignment furniture and home furnishings. Discounts must be used at the time the donation is made.
Petite Patoot, 1238 S. Broadway, 303-733-3337, www.petitepatoot.com
The buy-one-get-one-free sale at this upscale-resale children’s clothing shop runs Monday, Jan. 4 through Saturday, Jan. 9. Buy any one pair of children's shoes or any one item children's clothing and get another of equal or lesser value free. Select hair acessories from
Sugar Plum Fairy Bowtique are reduced by 20 percent.
Studio Bini children's clothing, 4020 Tennyson St.,720-255-2739.
Bring in copy of this newsletter in to Studio Bini for a 30 percent discount on all the store's adorable children's apparel, all of which is made in America, and much of which is made in Colorado. Baby blankets are reduced by 15 percent.
Headlines: The Washington Park Salon, 284 S. Downing St., 303-777-9251, headlinessalon.net.
Through Jan. 30, a haircut, worth $35 or more, is free to new customers when they get any color service at Headlines: The Washington Park Salon.
Little Feet children’s shoe store, 201 University Blvd., 303-388-9535, www.littlefeetandmore.
Little Feet’s semi-annual clearance runs through Jan. 30. Every pair of shoes, boots and slippers in the store is either reduced by 15 percent or priced at $25. Labels in the 15 percent category include Nike, Reebok, Adidas, New Balance, Timberland Merrell, Sorel, Kamik and Keen. The $25 clearance tables include dress shoes, fashion boots, slippers and selected athletic shoes.
Old South Frame & Gallery Custom, 1588 S. Pearl St., 303-715-3828, www.oldartgallery.com.
Through Jan. 15, bring a printed copy of the coupon on the BestColoradoDeals.com Web site to the gallery to purchase any custom wood frame and receive a second frame of equal or lesser value free. Mats, glass, mounting, fit and finish provided at the gallery’s standard, reasonable price.
Printed Page Bookstore, 1416 South Broadway, 303-777-7653.
This neighborhood shop has extended its books for food drive through January because “the need was just too great to stop,” according to bookshop co-owner Dan Danbom. The shop will give one book for each non-perishable food item brought to the store. The more food you bring in, the more books you can take home. Printed Page will give all food donations to East Denver FISH, a small, non-profit emergency food pantry that has operated continuously in the Washington Park area since 1974.
Puttin’ on the Ritz consignment, 1446 S. Colorado Blvd., 303-759-4398, has such a deal on furs, including two Black Gama floor length coats, several mink jackets and pieces in opossum, fox, lynx , beaver and coyote, most of which are selling at about 10 percent of appraised price.
Repeat Boutique consignment, 2725 S Colorado Blvd., 303-757-0086, www.arepeatboutique.com.
Owner Mary Simms has a full-to-overflowing Bargain Basement Back Room, featuring shoes, boots, purses, jeans, furs and casual and dressy clothing, including “a really excellent selection of high-end designer clothes at approximately 90 percent off original retail.”
Urban Roots, 1000 Acoma St., 303-893-4064, www.urbanrootsdenver.com.
Through January, trees, indoor foliage, bulbs, planters, plants, tools, fountains, garden decor, perennials, books, iron garden decor and many more items are reduced by as much as 40 percent.
Spread the word about the great deals you’ve found at locally owned retailers by sending an e-mail to Janet@bestcoloradodeals.com, and go to the BestColoradoDeals.com Web site to subscribe to the Best Colorado Deals newsletter. And don’t forget to catch Janet’s featured deals each Friday on Channel 9’s 4 p.m. news!
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Best Colorado Deals