The CRIBA Blog :: Live Local, Buy Local » Capital Region

Announcing: The Black Friday Challenge

Justin Cresswell — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 16:22:20 +0000

The Capital Region Independent Business Alliance is proud to announce our first ever Black Friday Challenge.

What’s the challenge? Make Black Friday GREEN! Take the holiday dollars you plan to spend this year – especially on Black Friday – and focus on spending them with local retailers and restaurants. We’re creating a free, on-line directory of local retailers and restaurants at CapitalRegion.com, so whether you’re a retailer or a consumer – we want to hear from you today at CapitalRegion.com! Its free, it’s easy, and it’s waiting for you now.

Consumers – Fill our our on-line form for consumer information, and we will notify you as local shopping info develops this Christmas.

Retailers – Fill out our on-line form for retailers, and we will add your information free of charge.

How does this make the day Green, you ask? Great question! This works for all of us in two big ways.

For the environment – Spending with local independent businesses is good for the environment. Local, community-based businesses are human-sized. They consume less land, carry more locally-made products, locate closer to residents and create less traffic and air pollution.

For the economy – Green is also the color of money, right? Every dollar we spend at locally owned, independent businesses returns 3 times more money to our local economy than one dollar spent at a chain or a big box giant.

The bottom line is this – how your spend your money makes a real difference for all of us, no matter who you are. Take five minutes today and do your part at CapitalRegion.com.

Siena Poll Sites Drop in Consumer Confidence but there Could be a Silver Lining

jim — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 15:45:56 +0000

The Siena Research Institute released their latest poll results yesterday citing a drop in consumer confidence. Consumer confidence levels dropped 1.9 percent in October, but if overall results from the last year are examined more closely there could be very positive signs heading into the Christmas shopping season.

Consumer confidence levels in October of 2009 are actually nearly 30% higher than they were in October 2008. One would hope this is good news for local merchants in the Capital Region. Last year was certainly a very difficult Christmas season for all retailers, especially in Upstate New York. But, we cannot ignore the fact that consumer confidence was so very low last year that things should be looking up for 2009 Christmas shopping based on the current levels in the SRI poll.

Less Choice for Christmas but Maybe Lower Prices

jim — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 21:12:37 +0000

According to the Retail Council of NYS, retailers may have a little less inventory on the shelf this year, but what they do have may be cheaper. The Retail Council conducted a member survey which indicated that NYS retailers were cautious this year but most thought the season would be as good or better than last year. Also, retailers seemed to be aware of the price conscious public and will be catering to them with lower cost items.

At CRIBA, we encourage you to buy your gifts from locally owned independent businesses whenever you can. Don’t fall for the myth that the local guy is always more expensive. The Capital Region is loaded with many innovative retailers that sell quality products at competitive prices.

November 4th Press Release from the Retail Council of NYS