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Visit our online directory of locally owned, independent businesses in Portland — and don’t be surprised by the variety, affordability, and quality of the goods and services you’ll find once you start thinking local! To see how we define "locally owned" and "independent," go to About Us. Portland Buy Local is a campaign of the Portland Independent Business & Community Alliance. Our mission is to support locally owned, independent businesses in Portland, to maintain our unique community character, provide continuing opportunities for entrepreneurs, build community economic strength, and prevent the displacement of community-based businesses by national and global chains. SUSTAINING MEMBERS Thank you to those members who have contributed beyond their regular dues: Benchmark Real Estate Caravan Beads Coffee By Design CornerStone Building Goodwill Industries of Northern New England Joan Leitzer Mechanical Services Oakhurst Dairy Peter Metsch Planet Dog Port City Studios Portland's Downtown District Portmanteau Sebago Brewing Co. Stacy Mitchell Supreme Clean Tsunami Tattoo Videoport For more on becoming a Sustaining Member, please see the Membership Application or contact us.
We are affiliated with the national nonprofit American Independent Business Alliance.
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Buy Local Mixer on Wednesday |
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Please join us for Portland Buy Local’s next mixer!
When: Wednesday, July 8th - 5:30pm-8pm
Where: Planet Dog Headquarters at 49 York Street
Planet Dog will supply snacks and Sebago Brewing Company will provide a variety of beverages for you to enjoy. Dogs are welcome at this event!
Buy Local Member Mixers are informal networking and social events. Come unwind and celebrate with other Buy Local members and indie biz enthusiasts, plus get updates on the latest happenings in the Buy Local scene.
Very special thanks to Sebago Brewing Company and Planet Dog for their generous support of this month's Buy Local Mixer.
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 Portland Buy Local celebrated Independents Week at the Farmers' Market in Monument Square on Wednesday, July 1st.
We unveiled the brand-new Buy Local t-shirt, distributed the first copies of the 2009 Find Your Independents directory, and highlighted the importance of local food producers and independent food retailers.
We also invited people to sign the 10% Shift Pledge and share their stories on why and how they’ve chosen to support Portland’s local independent business community.
A few of our members are celebrating Independents Week in their own way:
- Throughout the month of July, Coffee By Design will be once again offering its special Portland Independents Blend, with $1 of every pound sold supporting Portland Buy Local.
- The SunriseGuide is offering a 10% discount to locally owned business advertisers for the 2010 SunriseGuide. The discount applies to all ads placed between June 29 – July 10. Please note that the SunriseGuide has expanded its advertising criteria this year to include "locally owned" as a qualifier in addition to a commitment to sustainability. Please visit the Events page for more details.
Thank you to Portland residents and visitors for your continued support of locally owned businesses and keeping our city independent! |
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 Click to enlarge. Design by Sean Wilkinson. Portland Buy Local is proud to announce the local launch of The 10% Shift, a New England-wide initiative. The goal of this campaign is to stabilize and strengthen our region's economy by encouraging households, businesses, and organizations to shift 10% shift of their current spending from chain businesses to local independents.
Research shows that if everyone in Greater Portland shifted just 10% of their spending from chains and other non-local businesses to local independent businesses, it would generate more than $50 million annually in new economic activity for our region and 600 new jobs.
We invite you to: SIGN THE 10% SHIFT PLEDGE
This campaign is a partnership of local business organizations throughout New England. Learn more about this regional initiative. |
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Travel Local: Find Indie Businesses Throughout the U.S. |
Are you traveling outside of Maine this summer? Make your trip one-of-kind by visiting independent businesses wherever you go.
Follow the links on this interactive map to access online directories of local, independent businesses maintained by organizations like Portland Buy Local in over 120 cities and towns throughout the United States.
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Congratulations Indie Biz Awards Winners! |
May 21, 2009—A big crowd turned out last night to celebrate the Indie Biz Awards at Empire Dine & Dance (see photos by Avery Yale Kamila, caraslifka, and Brian Fitzgerald). Follow this link to see which great local businesses and nonprofits won! |
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