Website encourages Rhode Islanders to shop local

JUST IN TIME for Small Business Saturday and the holiday shopping season, the Rhode Island Foundation and local business leaders are urging Rhode Islanders to shop at locally-owned businesses using a new website called buylocalri.org. / COURTESY RHODE ISLAND FOUNDATION
JUST IN TIME for Small Business Saturday and the holiday shopping season, the Rhode Island Foundation and local business leaders are urging Rhode Islanders to shop at locally-owned businesses using a new website called buylocalri.org. / COURTESY RHODE ISLAND FOUNDATION

NEWPORT – A new website has been launched to encourage Rhode Islanders to shop at locally owned businesses – buylocalri.org.
The website is being promoted by the Rhode Island Foundation and local business leaders. In addition to local products, the website also features a calendar of holiday-related events and promotions and users can sign up for emails about discounts and special offers.

“Patronizing local shops and restaurants has the potential to payoff in a big way. We are talking about money that each one of us is already spending, so no additional investment is required. The return can be spectacular as the cash circulates through our economy,” Neil Steinberg, the Rhode Island Foundation’s president and CEO, said in a statement. “As these companies prosper, they will grow and put people back to work.”

Shifting just 10 percent of the purchasing that Rhode Island shoppers do from chains to independent, locally owned businesses has the potential to add $373 million to the state’s economy, according to a study commissioned by the Foundation. The study estimates that 57 percent of spending with locally-owned retailers stays in the state’s economy compared with 13.6 percent of spending at major national chains.
Events have been held throughout the past week to promote the new Buy Local campaign.

Lorna Zaloumis, co-owner of the Armory Antiques Marketplace in Newport, hopes this makes consumers more aware of the benefits of shopping at locally owned businesses like hers.

- Advertisement -

“The owners of the Armory Antique Marketplace very much support this Buy Local Rhode Island initiative since with the popularity of internet shopping, some people have forgotten how important it is to continue to support their local businesses. When you think about it, small business owners are what makes each and every community special and unique. So, even though Newport is a tourist destination during the summer months, we, like all local businesses, depend on the local community for their support year round,” Zaloumis said.

Only locally owned, Rhode Island businesses can list their companies on the Buy Local RI website at buylocalri.org. There is no cost for businesses or consumers to use the website.

“Last year, East Greenwich’s Main Street was featured nationally on MSNBC’s ‘Your Business’ as we prepared for Small Business Saturday. This year, we are again solidly behind Small Business Saturday and we are looking forward to making it even better,” Steve Lombardi, executive director of the East Greenwich Chamber of Commerce, said in prepared remarks.

In 2008, Lt. Gov. Elizabeth H. Roberts launched the original Buy Local RI initiative. Last year, the Foundation took over the campaign.

No posts to display