Photo by Ryan Nelson; tote bag screenprinted by THINK! Screen Printing, LLC

130 of the Valley’s best
mom and pops, including
clothing stores, cookie shops, funky boutiques, book stores and much more! Shop here for some truly great finds and to put money back where it belongs – into the local economy.

Let’s play a little game. Let’s pretend that you and nine of your friends need supplies for a party – decorations, gifts, cards, food, drinks, napkins, etc. – and you’re each willing to spend $100. You’re headed to the nearest superstore, like Wal-Mart, right? It makes sense – where else can you get everything you need in one stop?

But let’s think about this for a second. According to Local First Arizona, an organization that fights to keep your money circulating in the state, for every $100 spent at a national chain store, $13 remains in Arizona. So after your group of 10 raids Wal-Mart, you’ve just made $130 for the state. Way to go. But for every $100 spent at a locally owned business, $45 remains in Arizona. So if you take that shopping spree to the moms and pops of Phoenix, you’ve just put $450 back into the state and, eventually, into your own pockets.

Doesn’t seem like that big of a deal, but considering the $3 billion budget shortfall the state is facing, and if you apply those numbers to bigger expenditures, spending local could very well be our way out of this recession.

At least that’s the hope of Local First Arizona leader Kimber Lanning, who founded the organization in 2003 and turned it into a nonprofit in 2006. In November, Lanning, a local business owner herself (Stinkweeds, Modified Arts), will help launch a statewide campaign called the “10 Percent Shift,” which encourages residents, businesses, governments and nonprofits to shift at least 10 percent of their monthly expenditures from national chains to locally owned businesses. People will be able to log onto an online calculator (which wasn’t available as of press time) that will show them how much they’re personally putting back into the local economy. “That money will go to things like parks and libraries, fire departments, etc.,” Lanning says.

en other coalitions around the country have started similar campaigns as part of a larger Shift Across America movement (shiftacrossamerica.blogspot.com). The result? More money spent in Arizona means more money kept in Arizona and fewer jobs lost, Lanning says.

“Our goal is to keep $130 million in our local economy and create 1,600 new jobs and $52 million in additional local wages [within the first year of launching and every year after],” Lanning says. This projection mimics the results of a similar campaign recently completed in western Michigan, where 600,000 residents participated in a 10 percent shift and produced nearly identical results for their local economy (civic-economics.com/localworks).

She admits, however, that it’s not easy to sacrifice the conveniences of one-stop chain shopping, especially when it comes to everyday routines like banking and stocking up on daily essentials. So how does one even think about making the shift?

To start, we’re featuring 130 Local First Arizona businesses – a mere sampling of the organization’s 1,600 members, which you can view online at localfirstaz.com. There are many other independent businesses in the Valley worthy of profiling who aren’t members of Local First, but this is a great start, especially if you’re clueless on how – or where – to shop local.

And if you think you have to overhaul every spending habit to make a dent, think again. “Even if you shop one in five times at a local store, you’re making a difference,” Lanning says.


ENJOY THESE GREAT LOCAL PLACES TO SHOP AND PLEASE COME BACK NEXT WEEK FOR EVEN MORE OF PHOENIX MAGAZINE'S 'SHOP LOCAL!'

Photo by Eric Cassée Extreme Therapy Hair Care, Salvador Calvano

BEAUTY & WELLNESS

Embodyment Wellness & Fitness Center
5060 N. 19th Ave., Ste. 111, Phoenix,
602-432-8008,
embodymentaz.net

It offers many of the same classes as your neighborhood gym (spin, yoga, plyometrics, dance), but this wellness center concentrates on the mind, body and spirit with additional services such as lifestyle coaching, meditation and visualization sessions, group support and at-home personal training. So if you’re shopping around for a new place to work out, ditch the sweaty corporate-chain classes for this totally local total wellness experience instead.


Extreme Therapy Hair Care, Salvador Calvano
2505 N. Seventh St.,
Phoenix, 602-263-1138,
hairpeace.com

Damaged dreads? Seek out the Extreme Therapy hair care line at the ultra cool Salvador Calvano salon. Our favorite: the Mint Clarifying shampoo (8 oz., $15), which removes chlorine and build-up while cooling your scalp with a minty aroma. While you’re there, get your hair gussied up by the most under-the-radar, world-class stylist in town. Salvador Calvano has been buzzing around the hair and fashion business for 21 years, during which time his styles have appeared in every major fashion mag, from Vogue to Cosmopolitan. A cut costs $100, so save up if you need products, too. Online shopping is also available.


Inside the Bungalow
48 N. Robson St., Mesa,
480-844-2353,
insidethebungalow.com

Where else can you practice your sun salute, plan your wedding, nosh on a vegan curry dish and sip a mug of soothing tea? That’s the gist of Inside the Bungalow – a cute renovated house in the historic district of Mesa that acts as a yoga studio, event site, café and all-around community gathering space. Look for organic, Fair Trade items, and check the Website for open-mic nights and other monthly events.


Just Breathe Wellness Sanctuary
828 N. Second St., Phoenix,
602-256-1400,
justbreathewellness.com

Just Breathe is first and foremost a place to unwind with a soothing massage or facial, or get reenergized with a spin class, yoga session or tai chi lesson. When you step into this little healing sanctuary, which is adorned with local art and constructed with eco-friendly materials, you’ll be greeted and put at ease immediately by its friendly mascot – a lovable chocolate Labrador named Molly. Then, as the name implies, you’ll “just breathe.” Finally, pop into the mini side shop to stock up on locally made skincare products, workout accessories and books.

Photos by Ryan Nelson Lotus Wei Organics

Lotus Wei Organics
Sold at multiple Valley locations
lotuswei.com

With 10 years of experience as an organic alchemist, Katie Hess turned her knowledge of fiddling with flower essences into a fulltime gig. Now, she incorporates her expertise into a natural health and beauty line, which includes skincare products, elixir drinks, chocolate, organic spa products, herbal tonics and all-natural scents. She can even blend custom organic perfumes and energizing herbal elixirs for clients. Look for her line at the Downtown Phoenix Public Market, the Family Nutrition Center in Glendale, Joya Spa at the InterContinental Montelucia Resort and Spa in Paradise Valley, Lavender Moon in Goodyear and Urban Yoga in Phoenix.





Life Aroma- therapy
Sold at multiple Valley locations
lifearomatherapy.com

Made with 100 percent pure oils and packaged in easily recyclable materials, Life Aromatherapy products give a healthy boost to both your skin and spirit. Look for face and body sprays that relax or uplift, bath and shower gels to soothe your muscles, healing soaps and massage oils, products to make your home smell pretty, and a line of skincare for your eyes, nails and even your tummy.
The products are sold through At One Yoga in Phoenix and Scottsdale, Bikram Yoga Tempe, Silverleaf Spa in Scottsdale, Urban Yoga in Phoenix and, coming soon, Whole Foods.
 

Mane Attraction Salon
3156 E. Camelback Road, Phoenix, 602-956-2996,
maneattractionsalon.com

If you’re splurging on shampoo to boost those lackluster locks, why not boost the local economy at the same time? Mane Attraction is a full-service salon, offering hair, nail and skin services, and was named one of the “30 Hottest Salons” for the third year in a row by Salon Today. Aside from this esteemed reputation and its long-standing presence in the Valley (it has been in the same Biltmore-area location since 1981), we love that we’re able to buy Bumble & Bumble and Dermalogica products here. Also, check the Website for great makeover gift packages.

Photos by Nicole Roegner Melrose Pharmacy

Melrose Pharmacy
704 W. Montecito Ave., Phoenix, 602-277-4714,
mymelrosepharmacy.com

Where to buy the “little stuff” is probably the biggest dilemma when shopping local. Enter Melrose Pharmacy, which can fill your prescriptions (including mail orders and delivery), and offers just about everything you’d find at a Walgreens (soap, lotion, over-the-counter medicine, vitamins, bath products, etc.). You’ll even find locally made skincare products. Best of all, the folks here really live up to their claim of being the “friendliest pharmacy in Phoenix.” So don’t sweat the little stuff – just stop in at Melrose.
 

Mood Swings Salon
520 S. Mill Ave., Ste. 205, Tempe, 480-968-0268,
moodswingssalon.com

This trendy salon, housed in a century-old building in the heart of downtown Tempe, epitomizes cool, independent and fun. Our favorite part? We can stock up on Aveda products to pump up our roots while pumping up the local economy. The salon carries the eco-friendly line exclusively, so prepare to enter Aveda heaven. Along with hair treatments and styling, Mood Swings also offers facials by aestheticians, waxing, manicures and pedicures.

Photo by Ryan Nelson Verde Springs Soap Company

Verde Springs Soap Company
Sold through Practical Art,
5070 N. Central Ave., Phoenix,
602-954-0279,
verdespringssoap.com

Perfect for primping yourself or to give as pretty little gifts, Verde products are all-natural, handmade, totally vegan and free of the harsh chemicals found in many commercial skincare products. In addition to the original line of soothing soaps, Verde now also offers body scrubs, roll-on parfums, massage oils and one of our favorite lip balms around: a luscious blend of beeswax, jojoba oil, shea butter, mango butter, avocado oil, sweet almond oil and apricot kernel ($3).