In addition to keeping the money where the community can see it, spending locally this holiday season can make for an easier shopping experience. When an independent store stocks shelves for its community's residents, those shelves usually carry items locals actually want. "Our product is very tailored to our market based on what our customers want and buy," says Dana Brigham, owner and manager of the independently owned Brookline Booksmith (brooklinebooksmith.com) in Coolidge Corner. The Booksmith just filled shelves with the recently published cookbook Fresh and Honest ($35) from Peter Davis, chef at Henrietta's Table in Cambridge. Published by the Boston-based Three Bean Press, the book features local recipes and ingredients from area farms and is a perfect gift for any Boston localvore (someone who eats only locally produced and locally grown food).
And when stores stock things people actually want to buy, their shelves empty quickly. "Things that come in from the area tend to sell faster than other items in our inventory," says Jeralyn Mason, co-owner of the new Allston consignment shop Rescue. Rescue takes a fresh approach to consignment — Mason pays clients up-front in either cash or store credit for their trendy used clothes, bags, belts, and shoes. Those in need of a little extra dough before the holiday shopping kicks off should stop by the store at 252 Brighton Avenue.
Shopping locally also prevents against brain drain. "We have all these great schools — the Museum School, RISD, the New England Institute of Art. And where are these students going?" asks Val Fox, who last month launched a weekly boutique market for independent local designers, called Design Hive, at Cambridge's Maria Baldwin School. "They're going to New York. Why would we want to send our resources and dollars to New York?" Design Hive is a flea market of sorts for local up-and-coming designers and artists. Prices are reasonable enough for everyday shoppers, and each week the cast of vendors rotates. A local deejay spins music, and many of the offerings — from vintage boots to earrings made out of old typewriter keys — are recycled and repurposed.
"When people go food shopping, they want to know what they're putting into their bodies," Fox explains. "This lets people know what's going on their bodies." Design Hive is open every Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm. Let designhivemarket.com be your guide for the recessionista on your holiday list.
"Shopping locally is the number- one way to solve this economic crisis," Hammel concludes. Which is not to say that you should run out and convert your dollars and coins to locally coined currency, start eating an all-local diet, or find a recycled car that runs on locally grown corn. "The best way to solve this problem is buying the things you need and can use — not spending extravagantly — and buying them from your friends and neighbors," says Hammel.
Julia Rappaport isn't leaving her block this year, so you'll all be getting something from the locally owned newsstand on the corner. She can be thanked at julia.rappaport@gmail.com.
