Buy Local, Buy Downtown #ShopDTJax

Buy Local, Buy Downtown

The Downtown Marketing Collaborative, the originator of the “Downtown Is on Fire” campaign, has launched its #ShopDTJax campaign for the holiday season. This social media campaign will highlight sales, promotions, and unique holiday gifts available from downtown retailers and organizations through December 24.

Retro and rockabilly clothes for men and women from Grease Rags Clothing Co., books from Chamblin’s Uptown, tasty dips and rubs from River City Gourmet Shoppe, a bangle that sparkles from Jacob’s Jewelers, sports apparel and memorabilia from Sports Mania, and unique candles and lamps from Diversions represent only a small sample of the gifts available from Downtown’s retailers. Additionally, gift cards to restaurants, tickets for cultural events, and gift memberships to museums make thoughtful, experiential gifts that support the local economy.

“Buying gifts from Downtown’s small businesses, restaurants, and cultural organizations is an easy way to support Downtown business owners during the holiday season,” says Bill Prescott, co-founder of the Downtown Marketing Collaborative. “Downtown has more than 43,000 public parking spaces and a rich variety of retailers spread across the core business district. Shopping here is an entirely different experience from going to a big-box mall.”

Membership in the Downtown Vision Alliance is another great gift. Membership comes with a “Discover Downtown” card that unlocks more than 40 year-round deals at restaurants, shops, and attractions. Membership makes a wonderful gift and gives people who are passionate about Jacksonville an incentive to support the city’s core, not just during the holidays but all year long. It is available at discoverdtjax.com.

To see a full list of deals and discounts available this holiday season, visit downtownjacksonville.org/blog/2014/11/25/shopdtjax-campaign-makes-it-easy-to-buy-local-and-buy-downtown-this-holiday-season/or search for the #ShopDTJax hash tag on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

BY KATHERINE HARDWICK, Director of Marketing Downtown Vision, Inc.