STORES OPEN AT 6 A.M.; SAVE YOUR RECEIPTS FOR ADDITIONAL DISCOUNTS AT OTHER LOCAL SHOPS
ALEXANDRIA, VA – Skip the craziness of crowded malls and frenzied national discount stores and get “Door Buster” Black Friday discounts from local merchants in Old Town Alexandria this year.
Shop Local Alexandria, an initiative of the Old Town Boutique District, is organizing merchants across Old Town to open early. So far 24 locally-owned stores have signed on and more are joining up every day.
Studies have shown that when shoppers buy from local independent merchants, more money stays in the local community. That means more jobs, more tax revenues for local services and more support for local charities. It also means finding products and gifts that are more unique and diverse than what shoppers find at national chains. And in today’s big box, self-service world, local merchants offer genuine one-on-one customer service.
“We may not be able to offer the most outrageous discounts,” said Amy Rutherford, owner of Red Barn Mercantile and one of the many Old Town stores opening early on Black Friday, “but we have major retailers beat when it comes to quality, service and the overall retail experience. National retailers operate from national quotas, cookie cutter merchandise and get-it-yourself models. Local merchants know their customers. They buy what their customers want and are ready to go the extra mile to build real relationships. I live in Alexandria, my store is here. My customers are my friends and neighbors.”
In addition to special Black Friday hours, and individual in-store discounts, a collection of Old Town retailers are teaming up to provide extra savings. If you buy from one of the participating stores on Black Friday, your receipt becomes an instant 10 percent off coupon redeemable at any of the other participating stores. See the table below for participating stores.
Some of the retailers may set a few restrictions, but there's no limit on the number of stores shoppers can visit, or the amount of savings they can rack up. For example, if you buy something from Bloomers, you'll get 10 percent off at fibre space™. But why stop there. Your full-purchase receipt can get you 10 percent off purchases at La Cuisine, Mystique Jewelers, The Christmas Attic and other Old Town stores too.
The offer is good only on Black Friday, Nov. 26.
Shop Local Alexandria (www.ShopLocalAlexandria.com) is an initiative of the Old Town Boutique District, a grassroots organization of local independent retailers dedicated to promoting historic Old Town Alexandria. For more information about the Old Town Boutique District or other events, visit
OldTownBoutiqueDistrict.com.
Click link for a list of stores participating in the Black Friday Sale
(* offer special 10 percent off with receipt discount)
