Local Businesses Celebrate Alternative to Black Friday, Plaid Friday

Nov. 13, 2012 - PRLog -- The Friday after Thanksgiving has been known as "Black Friday" since the 1960s, and has become one of the biggest shopping days of the year in the U.S. On one hand it means discounts and new items for consumers before the year-end holidays, and increased sales for retailers. On the other hand, it's led to a frenzy of buying things we don't necessarily need or can't afford. This year, some of the big box retailers are starting even earlier, opening at midnight on Thanksgiving. Which means employees won't get to fully enjoy Thanksgiving with their families and friends, because they'll be busy preparing for shoppers.

Plaid Friday started in Oakland, CA, in 2009, and has quickly spread across the country making its way to Matthews, Mint Hill and Indian Trail thanks to RelyLocal, a locals-only resource for finding local businesses. Why Plaid? “It represents the colorful diversity of local merchants in our community”, said Nancy Bradley, a localist and community builder rallying for local businesses.

Rather than joining hordes of people trying to buy the latest electronics they don't need and can't afford, RelyLocal is asking local residents to shop and eat locally because more of the money you spend locally stays local (73¢ vs. 43¢ of each dollar).

There are dozens of Matthews, Mint Hill and Indian Trail businesses taking part in Shift Your Shopping / Plaid Friday including Abbey Rose Floral Artistry in Mint Hill, Backyard Wild in Matthews, Beantown Tavern, Manchester Auto & Tire of Mint Hill, Jersey Mike’s Matthews, FastFrame Matthews, JR Renditions Salon, and more. Visit http://www.relylocal.com/matthews-north-carolina/shift-your-shopping for an updated list of participating businesses.

It’s the busiest shopping day of the year! You could brave the big box crowds and doubtlessly find some great deals at Wal-mart or Best Buy. But why endure all that chaos when there are great deals to be had right here with local businesses in Matthews, Mint Hill and Indian Trail?

Help celebrate Plaid Friday by wearing plaid and shopping at participating businesses on Friday, November 23rd. Look for the special Shift Your Shopping/Plaid Friday posters in windows at local shops in your area. Plus, many of these businesses will be offering specials during Plaid Friday and all throughout the Shift Your Shopping campaign.

ABOUT RELYLOCAL

RelyLocal is a nationally-recognized grassroots marketing campaign advocating for local businesses in Matthews, Mint Hill and Indian Trail. As a leading organization advocating for local businesses in Matthews, Mint Hill and Indian Trail, our community campaign is divided into two complementary entities: a membership organization representing nearly 200 locally-owned businesses; and educators in the community on the importance of supporting local businesses.

More than just another online directory or community campaign, RelyLocal combines the tools of inbound marketing (SEO, content management, blogging, and social media) with traditional outbound marketing (direct mail, print, television, radio, and billboard advertising) supplemented by good old-fashioned boots on the ground type of community networking.  

Local businesses look to RelyLocal as their co-op advertising agency, internet marketing firm, and part time sales staff - representing them in the community all day, every day. We not only bring new, qualified traffic directly from the listings on RelyLocal.com, but we also feed the search engines and other directories, increasing overall online exposure and organic (free) rankings.