I Shop Local | Your personal invite

Our community

Our community has amazing retail stores and online stores run by people who are passionate about bringing you exclusive products and personalized service.

Our community has talented artists and crafters pouring their hearts into beautiful creations for you and the people in your life.

Our community has ingenious products that are designed and some manufactured locally.

Our community is filled with people who want to bring you a memorable experience through their service.

Our community is better when we support one another.

For those reasons and more, you are cordially invited to wear your love for local on your sleeve and to shop locally this holiday season. Embrace ~  I Shop Local.

Get Involved

1. Choose to purchase at least two gifts locally. Three. Four. All. Of course, more is better.

2. When celebrating with family and friends, choose to dine locally. Or warm up at a local coffee house.

3. Share your love for local on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google+….. and encourage others to choose to shop local this holiday season.

4.  Steal one of the lovely holiday ornaments or badges and add it to your blog or organization’s website. You can link it back here if you like. Or use it to simply adorn your digital home.

(Thank you Sarah from CHILDish for the décor.)

 

Need help finding local gifts in Edmonton?

We can help. CityandDale.com and CityandBaby.com will have multiple gift ideas for your loved ones that are available at local merchants. Check out the links below for more ideas.

For your Baby Girl (0- 1 years)

For your Baby Boy (0-1 years)

For your Toddler Girl (1-2 years)

For your Toddler Boy (1-2 years) 

For your Preschool Girl (3-5 years)

For your Preschool Boy (3-5 years)

Gillian's Favourite Things to Give

Aric's Favourite Things to Give

Jenifer's Favourite Things to Give

Tracy's Favourite Things to Give

Make sure to also visit Live Local to find listings on where to Shop, Eat, Dine and Play locally. They have great party planning and local gift ideas in this post.

Then pop over to Yelp Edmonton and take their "Yelp Shops Local Pledge".

Modern Mama also posed on Dec 6 their Holiday Hit List featuring local Edmonton businesses and great tips for a frugal Christmas by Lori Godin, Edmonton Frugal Mama.

And we’re sure you have some great local gift ideas too. Post them below in the comments along with who the gift would be perfect for. This makes it easier for others on the hunt for the perfect gift.  Note: self-serving comments are not as flattering as those shared by a heartfelt fans.

Update on Thursday, December 1, 2011 at 9:34PM by CityandBaby

Dec 1: City and Dale contributors Gillian and Aric share their favourite gifts to give.

Update on Tuesday, December 6, 2011 at 9:33PM by CityandBaby

New gift guide posts: Gift Ideas for Your Baby Girl and Baby Boy.

Comments

[Joanna Clark Dawyd]

Any time I need to buy a gift for a baby or young child I head to Wee Love Baby Boutique. I haven't been to Toys R Us in quite a while now!

[Melissa]

There is a little shop on Facebook. It's a Mom who makes flowers and has headbands for little girls. I saw her at a show a few months back. I bought a bunch for my girls and some family members. Search Lavish Bambino on FB and you should find it.

[Nicola Doherty]

Love this idea Jen! You're doing great things for Edmonton!

[Simone]

Love this idea, thanks!

[Casey]

There's a new baby boutique called Firefly Baby. It's run by 2 moms and they have amazing products. you can find them in Facebook by searching Firefly Baby & Accessories or by going to their website
www.fireflybabyshop.com

I've placed a few orders and all the stuff is awesome!

[Social Circlet]

A huge thank you for motivating people to support local! Edmonton and area has such amazing businesses and entrepreneurs! Keep our money within our community and buy from someone local. Helps local economy and keeps our city strong.

[catherine finlayson]

What a great post! Love the concept of encouraging our community to buy local, support local. Sarah from CHILDish the logo is fabulous! Walk your talk Edmonton, support and share local businesses you admire and encourage others to do the same! Bravo!

[Edmonton-designed and made Bibagogo]

City and Baby & City and Dale, your support for local entrepreneurs and businesses are so appreciated. What an amazing community of local designers, manufacturers and retailers we have. Thank you for your energies to encourage people to buy locally!

[Deborah Merriam]

Terrific idea, Jen! I've just shared it on Pinterest in my Neighborhood Finds folder, and in the monthly news roundup post on my blog. I'll be adding a badge too.

Live Local are an incredible resource - I'm a huge fan of their food box programme, which delivers the farmers' markets to your doorstep, and I think any local businesses out there (not just retail, they list services too) should look into whether a membership would work for them. I'd also like to give a shoutout to Carbon Environmental Boutique, Lucid Lifestyle, Earth's General Store (the new location is worth checking out if you haven't visited it yet), and RedBike - amazing local independently-owned businesses with fantastic customer service and great products who also happen to be eco-heroes.

[Lyndal]

I'm buying MYSELF a local gift this year.... A CHILDish Christmas plate. I think it's such a cute idea for a new tradition for our family - cookies and milk for Santa, and now he'll know who it's from!

[Jessica]

Great topic! As a local small business owner, I think it's wonderful to see such support for shopping local :)