What is "local" to a Localvore?

Many towns across the U.S. launched "Shop Locally" campaigns. You can find them from Lafayette, California to New Orleans, LA. I love the idea of shopping in your hometown - seeing neighbors and friends out there and putting money into your local projects. The most successful is the local farmer who grows the food and brings it to the local farmers' market.

But, hometown shopping is trickier with other products. Have you checked the labels in your favorite shirts...Vietnam, China or Thailand...It's rare to have it say Made in the USA. So, even though I buy the shirt from my local boutique, it is not usually produced locally or even in the USA. So, have far do we go to shop "local"? Do we start local, then regional, then state, then nation? Then world? What about B2B? Most of our customized products are made overseas and then decorated in the US. We do have products that are Made in the USA but they are the minority.

I think it comes down to balance - aim for local and US made and, if not available - at least buy from local businesses. Make concientious buying decisions. Becoming a Localvore means more than eating fruit from your local farms. It can mean doing business with others in your community. They will in turn put money back into the local economy.

So, if you are in the Bay Area and would like a local connection to promotional products, you can check out www.o2marketing.com.