The holiday season is here! Between the installation of Lansing’s beloved ornaments in the traffic circle, the glow and excitement of Silver Bells in the City, and cheerful storefront décor, it’s hard not to feel a little bit of the holiday spirit around us. It’s also an incredibly busy time for our merchants — and for all of us — as we move through the hustle and bustle of gift buying, family gatherings, business holiday parties, and more.
We can all make an impact and uplift our local businesses by making a conscious choice to purchase gifts, meal ingredients, desserts, local spirits, and more from Downtown businesses.
Shopping local supports the people and places that make up our downtown district. It keeps your dollars circulating in our local economy, contributes to local jobs, and strengthens our overall downtown community. It also gives you the chance to make this season truly special with gifts that stand out – are memorable, meaningful, and are found only here in Michigan’s Downtown!
By choosing to shop local, the Michigan Retailers Association’s annual study shows we can boost Michigan’s economy by $1.1 billion and create over 11,000 jobs. Just think - if we all committed to purchasing even 50% of our holiday gifts, festive nights out, catering for those office parties or hosted gatherings with friends, and meal items locally - we could have a significant positive impact right here in Michigan’s Downtown.
In this month’s newsletter, you’ll discover unique gifts and experiences that can only be found downtown — from memberships and tickets, to books, interactive soap-making or woodworking classes, flower subscriptions, and more. We hope these ideas spark inspiration for the perfect gifts to give (or gift to yourself!). Let’s all shop, dine, and support our local Downtown merchants this holiday season!
Sincerely,
Cathleen Edgerly
Executive Director, Downtown Lansing Inc.
