Racine is home to many talented artisans and craftsmen, when it comes to giving, you need to only look as far away as your hometown. The sources below feature gift items made right here in Racine.
We are all faced with the decisions concerning where we’re going to purchase products and services. Hopefully, we’ve taken into consideration our local communities and have based those decisions on the fact that we’d like to keep our dollars in our local economy. But why is local spending such an important matter? After all, it’s just as easy to spend that money somewhere else and often in places where even more products and services are offered. It requires a special committment to local businesses to make what is often an extra effort to shop locally.
Shopping locally keeps dollars in the community. There is a strong multiplier effect within the community for every dollar that someone spends locally, whether it’s for retail goods or services. For example, a dollar spent in a retail store could be used by the store owner to pay rent to a landlord, who then might use that dollar to buy gas. The gas station owner may use the dollar to buy something at the local hardware store, and the hardware store owner may use the dollar to buy something at the pharmacy, and so forth. It’s when the dollar is taken outside the county that the multiplier effect dissolves. This doesn’t mean that we need to buy everything locally. After all, as shopping is a social event at times, “shopping trips” can be vitally important to a community’s retail health in bringing in shoppers from outside the community.
Local businesses are usually owned by fellow community members, and the trust of local merchants is a factor. Local owners also contribute to the community in tangible and intangible ways. For instance, they impact the tax base, provide resources for improving the community, and they give back to the community through the support of local activities.
Local retailers know their loyal customers. Personal service and relationships are very important factors to consumers, and, after all, quality customer service is what we like best about shopping locally. We like that hometown feeling and friendly atmosphere, and we’ll always know who we’re doing business with.
Local retailers are uniquely able to provide service to their local customers. When it comes to product knowledge, guarantees, assembly, care and maintenance, it’s the local businesses that deliver. Knowing what the customer needs, and being able to explain how to use those products to the customer are unique services provided by local businesses.
Here are some handy links to help you make it local!
Christopher Sklba, a lifelong Racinian, started in the jewelry industry in 1982. He specializes in precious and exotic metals and works with a variety of gemstones and materials.
The Cobblestone is a long established, award winning frame shop located in a historic landmark building in the heart of Downtown Racine's Art District. Featuring work by Racine artists Don Riccio and Ed Danowski.
Primarily an art glass studio, HSG also offers a gallery of glass items created by the owners and instructors. Gift certificates make a great gift for artistic friends.
Husband and wife, Brad Jaeck and Carol Hansen specialize in nature settings and fine art photography. Their lighthouse photographs are among the best ever captured by camera.
Plumb Gold Ltd. features an exquisite collection of natural gemstones and dazzling diamonds. They have a large selection of both in-house designs by Judy K. Olsen and selected designers.
Founded in 1967, the Racine Arts Council Inc. is a private, nonprofit organization whose function is to coordinate and promote Racine area arts programs. With a rotating gallery of area artists, it is a great way to support working artists.
Spectrum Gallery is dedicated to helping artists. The cooperative artist-run gallery is a non-juried and non-judgmental organization and celebrates the creative expression of all artists.
Did you ever show up at an out of town party and not bring a kringle? Never make that mistake again! There are many local businesses that specialize in scrumptous gifts only found in Racine!
