Think Independent
Shop Local
When you shop at Princeton’s locally owned businesses
you help to build a strong, sustainable community and
you help Princeton keep its unique character and charm.
Shop and dine in Hometown Princeton.
It’s an investment in your community that pays off every day.
Hometown Princeton
is a network of independent, locally owned shops and restaurants that
have come together to promote a greater sense of community in Princeton by
supporting our town and each other. Hometown Princeton businesses:
Keep more money circulating in the local economy
45 cents of every dollar spent in local businesses stays in the
community, where it is used to hire local people, utilize local services, make
purchases from other locally owned businesses, and support local organizations.
Compare this to the 13 cents per dollar that stays from purchases made
at a national chain store,* and 0 cents for purchases made online.
Support local charities and civic organizations
Locally owned firms contribute more to local charities and fundraisers
than do non-local firms.** And many local business owners
are active in our community serving as volunteers and
acting as mentors to area entrepreneurs and youth.
Protect our environment
Malls and highways create traffic and pollution, eliminate natural
habitats, encourage excessive energy consumption, and require a greater share
of our municipal revenues for infrastructure than local shops.
Build a sense of community in Princeton
We are all interdependent and reciprocity is the foundation of a
healthy, well-functioning community. The quality of life in our town
depends on a thriving retail community. In return, locally-owned shops
and restaurants depend solely upon the support of area residents.
Enhance what makes our town special
Princeton is a lively, picturesque, and interesting place to live,
work, and study. Independent specialty stores preserve and enhance the
unique nature of our town in ways that national chains cannot.
*Study in Austin Texas on the Economic Impact of Local Merchants and
Chain Retailers
**Andersonville Study of Retail Economics by Civic Economics
www.civiceconomics.com