HELPING OUR LOCAL ECONOMY: For more than a month, we have been talking about ways to help our local economy. Now, we have expanded our SHOP LOCAL COUPON EVENT by increasing the discount to 40% and adding another eight days! Still – NOBODY HAS YET PARTICIPATED! WE NEED YOUR HELP AND LOCAL BUSINESSES NEED YOUR HELP. The reward for you is great – not only are you helping the local economy but we will help you with your economy by giving you 40% off three items – just for shopping with three local merchants.

ANOTHER LOCAL MERCHANT IS CLOSING THEIR DOORS. Anna Leigh’s is located in The Plaza Shoppes (across from the resort on Sherman Avenue in Coeur d’Alene). They offer fine styles and great prices on women and children’s clothing. But they are closing their doors the end of October. This will be a great loss to our community. But let’s not ignore them these last few days – THEY ARE OFFERING 40% OFF EVERYTHING. Let’s help them out – it may be too late to help them stay in business but let’s help them close out with dignity.

In the past few weeks, we have offered several suggestions for shopping locally and we have asked you to share your suggestions. This week, we had a few more responses (we are still looking for yours):

KAREN K wrote: “I really like shopping at the Flour Mill.  They are very helpful and knowledgeable.” [Ed note - my wife and I can second that. We find Rob and his crew to be very friendly, helpful and the prices are competitive with bigger stores.]

MARTHA M wrote: “I love to shop Pilgrims Natural Foods . . . Paris Flea Market (on 4th, CDA) . . . Wiggett Antique Mall (downtown CDA) . . . Mary Jane’s Farm retail shop (the Plaza Shoppes) – her philosophy on supporting rural America is awesome.”

JUDY H wrote: “Grays Print Shop – owner Rhonda Gray is friendly, personable, honest, sincere, accommodating, and does excellent printing . . . even delivers to your door. . . Katie Mans sells Mary Kay skin care products. Katie is friendly, enthusiastic, hard worker, a leader in her field, and will deliver products to you at any location you wish. . . Airco Mechanical repaired my air conditioner promptly . . . polite, respectful, excellent customer service. . .

For more information (including contact information) on these and other local businesses, go to
http://uniquemotif.com/decor/local-businesses/

ADD YOUR TWO CENT’S WORTH: Please send us your suggestions for shopping local. We are neighbors and we are here to help each other.

LOCAL SUCCESS DEPENDS UPON LOCAL LOYALTY. Thank you.

1 – Send us your picks for favorite stores and we will post them.

2 – Read about local businesses – and take their literature from the Greater Hayden Community Board in the Unique Motif store and/or post your business on our Greater Hayden Community Board at Unique Motif.

3 – PLEASE FORWARD THIS NEWLSETTER TO A FRIEND AND ASK THEM TO SIGN UP for our newsletter.

We are in this together. Read more about shopping local on our website: http://UniqueMotif.com/decor/

HERE ARE 9 REASONS WHY UNIQUE MOTIF IS YOUR STORE!
1) Email Specials Every Week.
2) 10% Bring-A-Friend-Discount (friend must sign up for newsletter).
3) Gift Cards – no fee, no expiration.
4) Discounts for Special Orders .
5) Shipping to Family and Friends.
6) Layaway at no extra charge.
7) New Products all the Time!
8) Online Store – http://uniquemotif.com/store/
9) Clock and Furniture Repair.

This past month, we have been talking about ways to help our local economy. Our coupon this week and last week is for 35% off any two items in our store for turning in receipts from three local businesses. In other words, shop any local store and receive rewards from Unique Motif. Receipts that do not qualify are Big Box stores and franchises, of course, because they do not originate locally. Also, we are not promoting restaurants, liquor sales and porn.

THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO REMEMBER ABOUT SHOPPING LOCALLY is local merchants are your neighbors. If they fail, it affects our whole neighborhood. Sure, some will fail due to their own stupidity – and we can’t help that. But the single most critical factor for a local business is that they cannot buy enough advertising to overcome the Big Box marketing budgets. This is where we come in – neighbors helping neighbors, as the Spokane-local Alton’s Tires likes to phrase it.

It seems ingrained in our psyche to shop at Big Boxes, where selection appears to be larger and prices seem to be lower. But these are not always the case – and Big Box stores all have that so-similar look and feel. Local merchants often have more unique products than you will find in the Big Box stores and most are willing to work with you on the price, if they are higher. You will benefit from better service at most local merchants and you will enjoy the distinctive flavor and environment of the local store.

In the past few weeks, we have offered several suggestions for shopping locally and we have asked you to share your suggestions. FEW HAVE RESPONDED – We are in this together. So, please send in your suggestions for favorite local stores. Thank you.

Last week, Deborah O gave high praise for PET STOP on Government Way, and we published that. Since then, two more clients have responded with praise for PET STOP. Amanda R wrote, “I, too, shop at PET STOP. Better quality, better prices, more excellent service then ‘Big Box’. I wish more people knew that local businesses can be an affordable and rewarding alternative.” and Linda F wrote, “I, too, am only giving my business to PET STOP, they are great!  I will not step foot in [Big Box - name withheld, but you know]!!!!

Today, I stopped in at PET STOP to see if we could do a write up for the store. The owners were on vacation, so we will talk to them later. The store was pleasant, friendly and clean; smaller than Big Box, but they seemed to have everything you would need for your pet.

As for other recommended favorites, Amanda R gave a second suggestion, “Also THE FRESH SPICE MARKET in Post Falls behind Walgreens. Bulk spices, loose leaf tea, and locally made and created sauces. A better way to keep your spices fresh and diversified without buying large containers that are expensive and expire before you can use it all.”

ADD YOUR TWO CENT’S WORTH: Please send us your suggestions for shopping local. We are neighbors and we are here to help each other. LOCAL SUCCESS DEPENDS UPON LOCAL LOYALTY. Thank you.

1 – Send us your picks for favorite stores and we will post them.

2 – Post your business on our Greater Hayden community board at Unique Motif.

3 – Working together, we can build a strong local economy.

4 – PLEASE FORWARD THIS NEWLSETTER TO A FRIEND AND ASK THEM TO SIGN UP.