July is Independent Retailer Month, a time to celebrate and support independent businesses' meaningful impact on the local economy. It is also a great reason to make a plan to visit and support the many independent businesses in Uptown Cincinnati, one of the city's most diverse areas that is home to an array of unique stores and restaurants.
One of the communities of Uptown is Clifton, an area that boasts an eclectic mix of families, professionals, educators, students, artists and entrepreneurs. Clifton's business district is home to over 60 merchants.
In honor of Independent Retailer Month, Uptown Consortium, Inc. (UCI) reached out to two sister businesses in Clifton, Pangaea Trading Company and Toko Baru on Ludlow, to create a video feature to highlight both stores' offerings.
Located in the heart of Clifton's gaslight district, Pangaea has been a destination for diverse fashion, accessories and jewelry for decades. They have a superior selection of sterling silver gemstone jewelry. Its sister store, Toku Baru, specializes in unique gifts, housewares, bath goods and more.
Both stores carry an eclectic mix of styles: funky vintage-inspired, beautiful bohemian, sporty and practical. For more information, visit the retailer's website, Pangaea’s Facebook page and Toku Baru’s Facebook page.
"Clifton is one big melting pot, with people from around the world leaving their mark on the neighborhood," says UCI’s Director of Community Development, Brooke Rapp. "Uptown residents have many opportunities to experience different walks of life daily, whether through food, art or unique retail offerings. Pangaea and Toko Baru are two good examples on Ludlow.”
According to Rapp, buying local and supporting Uptown businesses is a fantastic way to put your money directly into the community. "Not only do you support local business owners when you shop in Uptown, but you also support local education, infrastructure and community development," Rapp said.
Need an additional incentive to shop locally? Independent Retailer Month shares a few statistics about the importance of supporting local retailers.
Independent retail returns 46.9% of all revenue to the local economy, while major chains recirculate 13.6% of revenue within local markets. (Source: a study by Civic Economics).
A dollar spent at an independent retailer is usually spent six to fifteen times in the community before heading out of town. Just $1 can create $5 to $14 of value in the immediate area. (Source: South Dakota Rural Enterprise, Inc.).
If every family in the U.S. spent an extra $10 a month at a locally owned, independent business instead of a national chain, over $9.3 billion (about $29 per person in the US) would be directly returned to our economy. (Source: CustomMade Infographic).
To learn more about other unique businesses in Uptown and how you can support them, check out a video compilation that UCI worked on with SunnyBlu. Buying locally means your money goes directly into the community to support its growth and sustainability. It makes the community more vibrant and attractive to even more local businesses.