Story by Alexandria Lindstrom + Photography by Catherine May Taylor
Shopping local is extremely important for keeping money in the local community, but it can be easy to get caught up in all the holiday hype that focuses on shopping at big-box stores. For that reason, Old Town Boutique District (OTBD) makes shopping local a signature event by sending out their Elf Patrol to reward shoppers in Old Town who are carrying shopping bags from any OTBD store.
“We want to encourage residents and neighbors to shop small by rewarding them for shopping local during the holidays...”
Alyson Foster
“We want to encourage residents and neighbors to shop small by rewarding them for shopping local during the holidays, which is so important because doing so supports all the hardworking individuals that have put their own money, blood, sweat, and tears into providing goods and services to their community,” said Alyson Foster, who operates Pure Barre of Alexandria, one of the businesses proud to participate in the Elf Patrol.
From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays, now through December 21, OTBD’s Elf Patrol will surprise shoppers with gift cards and other tokens of appreciation contributed by local shop owners.