Shop local this holiday season

Put Your Money Where Your Heart Is

Every mindful purchase—whether it’s a handmade gift, pastries from a neighborhood bakery, or ingredients for your family’s holiday meals— shopping local circulates resources right back into our community. That creates jobs, fosters creativity, and strengthens the small businesses that make our towns vibrant and unique.

Why “Shop Local” Matters More Than Ever

The holiday season has a beautiful way of bringing people together—through celebrations, thoughtful traditions, and the joy of giving. But beyond the sparkle of lights and wrapped gifts, this time of year also offers us something powerful: a chance to support the local businesses and events that make our community feel like home.

When you shop local, you’re doing much more than purchasing a product or service. You’re investing in the people behind the counter, the makers at the market, the creatives offering their talents, and the restaurants preparing meals for your gatherings. Each mindful purchase helps fuel our local economy and keeps our neighborhoods resilient and thriving.

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The Real Impact of Shopping Local

Local spending doesn’t just circulate—it multiplies. Research consistently shows that money spent at locally owned businesses stays in the community at a far higher rate than dollars spent at big-box or online retailers. That means:

• More local jobs
• More opportunities for entrepreneurship
• Stronger small business ecosystems
• More walkable, bustling downtowns
• More economic resilience for the entire region

Even simple holiday choices— purchasing gifts from local artisans, sourcing ingredients from local markets—create ripples of positive impact throughout the community. From gifts to gatherings, it all counts.

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Support the People Who Make Our Community Shine

At Groundwork, we’re lucky to be surrounded by talented members whose services make incredible holiday gifts—and whose work directly supports the heart of the local economy. Here are a few to highlight this season:

Style By Ana Harris

Looking to treat someone to a confidence-boosting refresh? Ana offers personalized styling services that make fashion feel accessible, empowering, and fun. Whether it’s a wardrobe reset, curated outfits, or a thoughtful styling session gifted to someone special, Ana’s expertise brings out the best in every client.

A gift card for her services makes a meaningful, completely personalized holiday present.

Falling Off Trees by Korie Ellis

Korie’s work brings art, emotion, and nature together in beautiful, unexpected ways. Her unique creations—whether artwork, prints, or handcrafted pieces—make heartfelt, one-of-a-kind gifts. Supporting Korie means supporting a local creative whose vision helps bring beauty and inspiration into our daily spaces.

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Experience the Flavors of New Bedford with New Bedford Food Tours

For a gift that’s equal parts memorable, delicious, and deeply local, New Bedford Food Tours—founded by member Pam Schwartz—offers an unforgettable way to experience the city. Walk, eat, and get the inside scoop as you visit restaurants that showcase New Bedford’s rich cultural heritage.

A New Bedford Food Tour is more than a meal—it’s an adventure that supports local restaurants, celebrates cultural traditions, and strengthens the local economy.  Gift certificates are available here, making this a perfect holiday gift for food lovers, history buffs, and anyone who loves supporting local.

Mindful Holiday Purchases Create Stronger Communities

Every choice we make this season matters. Whether you’re picking up stocking stuffers from a local shop, choosing a gift card to a neighborhood restaurant, hiring a local service provider, or buying from a vendor at a holiday market, you’re helping strengthen the economic and cultural fabric of our region.

Shopping local builds connection. It celebrates creativity. It keeps our dollars close to home. And it ensures the businesses we love stay here for years to come.

This holiday season, let’s uplift the people and places that make our community truly special—one thoughtful purchase at a time.

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