Shop Local Acadiana News

In addition to special discounts at Shop Local Acadiana’s member businesses, local business owners will be out bright and early Friday morning serving free coffee and lemonade to the public at Johnston Street Java, next to The Grand movie theatre.

Shop Local Acadiana will also be on hand giving away free “geaux local” tote bags full of goodies and discounts from their members.

The organization’s “Free Coffee Friday!” event will take place from 7am to 9am this Friday, July 22nd. Everyone is encouraged to come out and support their local business owners while enjoying complimentary coffee and lemonade.

           
Our membership deadline for the next Shop Local Acadiana is almost here. By Monday, we will have again assembled the most excting list of local independent businesses in Acadiana.Businesses that love and believe in their communties.  It has been such a rewarding experience to work together with these great people and see how united our community can be!

Speaking of rewarding, be sure to check back after February 15th to print valuable money-saving coupons from our members.

When you are out and about, look for the Certified Locally Owned seal and rest assured that these businesses are committed to 
keeping our community moving. In fact, 3X more of your money stays right here in Acadiana when you shop, dine and support these local independent establishments. 

            

    

Stay tuned. Shop Local Acadiana will be launching an iPhone app in February to help you find the best that Acadiana has to offer.

The app will allow you to see a list of all Shop Local Acadiana members by category or by distance from your current location.  In addition, you'll be able to click to call, see the business on a map, get driving directions or open their web page on shoplocalacadiana.com.

Shop by category, shop by distance. Shop local!

With the new year here, it's important to start thinking about what's important to me, my family and my community. Do I want to be healthier in 2011? Yep, Stop swearing when I get angry? Definately. Do I want to focus my shopping to local businesses? Well, yes. Why is this in my top 3, you ask? Well........When we shop local we truly make a difference for ourselves, our future and those around us. Shopping locally keeps me and my neighbors employed, it keeps my town unique and interesting, it allow me and my family to find things here in Acadiana that I couldn't find at a big box store. As a local business owner, living in a community that supports local small business means that I will be around for the "long haul", that I will be able to support my family, my local charities and more. Shop local gives us control over the health of our town, it gives us a way to take back, give back and keep what's uniquely ours. I shop local, I work local, I am local. So, a resolution that helps me and everyone around me in one easy action is definately at the top of my list for 2011.

So, as I glide into another year, here's to all of you out there who join my resolution to support my neighboring local businesses. Happy New Year ya'll!

-Gina Babineaux
owner, Artesia Boutique
co-founder, Shop Local Acadiana