Shop locally campaign reminds folks to keep dollars circulating in your hometown

Above / Decked out in his signature red, white and blue attire and black-rimmed glasses, Waldo has been traveling  and creating scenes throughout the nation on his annual Tour de Independents. Until July 31, the fictional storybook star also is right here in Naperville, promoting the “shop locally” movement as he hides throughout the city’s independent business community to help educate all ages about the value of supporting local businesses whenever possible.

By the end of the business day at 9PM on July 31, the so-called “passports” that represent Waldo sightings are to be turned into Anderson’s Bookshop in order to be entered into the kid-friendly prize drawing on Wed., Aug. 1.

Waldo’s Wrap Up of the 2018 Tour de Independents will begin at 11AM at the store located at 123 W. Jefferson. It’ll be brief.

That means every business day until July 31, players can still hit the local independent business community running to find where Waldo is hiding inside 12 different establishments of the ones listed below.

Since July 1, the annual Tour de Independents has featured a search for Waldo to remind folks of the importance of spending local dollars where your heart is… right in your hometown.

Thanks to all who shop, dine, bank, entertain and contract services locally whenever possible. Thanks also for supporting independent enterprises that display the bright red IndieBound Naperville sign 365 days a year.

Find Waldo at participating Naperville merchants thru July 31, 2018…

Think red & IndieBound Naperville / Keep dollars circulating locally

Beginning the final stretch of campaigning via a national campaign of Candlewick Press and the American Booksellers Association that was introduced to IndieBound Naperville seven years ago, Waldo is about to wrap up his coast-to-coast message to support local businesses for 2018. 

Every day until Waldo returns next July, however, independent business owners are hopeful local folks will continue to find them at local shopping destinations whenever possible to keep local dollars circulating and recirculating in the local economy.

Remember that Waldo goes undercover in July to put into plain view the businesses that make the city unique, livable and vibrant. What’s more, when you shop locally, you help create jobs for people who live here and also will shop here. You help the environment.

You also nurture the businesses most likely to support your hometown charities. You conserve local tax dollars for local revenue for city services, parks and schools. 

Furthermore, when you visit local independents, you can take advantage of services, knowledge and expertise as you support their innovative entrepreneurship and small businesses. You also help create a thriving destination.

You’ll even be surprised by the number of local businesses that offer online services such as banks, printers, grocers and pharmacies. 

So you see… no matter where you live in the world, it matters to shop locally.

For more information about IndieBound Naperville and the shop locally movement, visit www.indieboundnaperville.org.

Look for that bright red sign in shop windows and put your money where your heart is, right here in your hometown.

Thanks for supporting your local businesses every day all year long.

Also remember the encouraging words of Dan Casey, owner of Casey’s Foods, when you’re out and about. “Support your local businesses and you’ll always live in a nice community,” Casey says.

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