Shop Local Raleigh Updates, News and Events

Independents Week

Independents Week (July 1-7) is an annual campaign, encompassing July 4, that engages local independent businesses and citizens in celebrating entrepreneurial spirit and the freedom our local businesses embody. Independents Week also is an occasion to recognize small businesses’ contributions to the community–and to affirm citizens’ role in shaping their community’s future.

The Indie Challenge

#IndieChallenge
The Indie Challenge is to try fulfilling all of one’s needs at local independent businesses for the week. Challenge yourself and your customers for one week in July to shop local and independent for an entire week! Let’s all be part of the #IndieChallenge and let’s see what kind of impact we can make in our community and the long term changes we can make in how consumers choose to spend their money.

Where’s Waldo in Raleigh

Where’s Waldo? In Raleigh, of course! The famous children’s book character in the striped shirt and black-rimmed specs is visiting twenty-two local businesses throughout our community this July. To find a full list of participating businesses, click here.

Print out your passport before you head out!

Merchant Match Charity

Business to Business Spotlight Credit Card Processing

Merchant Match Charity, a GRMA Member offering credit card processing, wants to change the way the profits of each swipe are used. The MMC mindset is to do good while doing business with Merchant Match Charity.

Whenever a credit card is swiped, Merchant Match Charity channels 50% of their gross profit from the processing fees to the Charity of YOUR Choice. This donation happens automatically each month, at no cost to you. Your business does not pay more with Merchant Match Charity, but allows you to partner so that together you can impact families and change lives without changing the way you do business. To learn more about becoming an Impact Partner, contact 919.212.4639 or info@merchantmatch.net

The Produce Box Gives Back to

Urban Ministries

The Produce Box has a need for someone to pick up produce on Friday morning’s & deliver to Urban Ministries of Wake County. You can sign up for as many or as little Friday’s as you have time/interest, so there is no long-term commitment.

Sign up here to pick your Friday. Meal train will send you a reminder email and if you click on the link you will get the details and information again.

Special Instructions: Pick up Fresh Produce at Produce Box located at 900 Withers Road, Raleigh, NC 27603. At Produce Box, back your vehicle up at the first bay (right before the fence) and several very nice gentlemen will come load it up for you. Tell them you are the volunteer with Urban Ministries. You may be asked to sign a form. An SUV or Truck is preferred. If using an SUV you may want to lay down a blanket or tarp in the back of your car as some of the boxes may be wet. The Produce Box is open as early as 7:30 but Urban Ministries does not open until 8:30. Once you arrive at Urban Ministries, drive around to the food pantry loading dock and ring the bell. Volunteers will be there to help you unload. Urban Ministries is located at 1390 Capital Blvd, Raleigh, NC 27603.

Show Some Social Love

Shop Local Raleigh has a robust social media following and presence.  We are on every social media site in an effort to share news about our community, happenings, events and you!

While our staff is small- a staff of two, we work hard to put together a social media campaign that works to highlight all of you and encourage the follower to check out a place they haven’t been before, revisit a spot they haven’t been to in a while and consider using your business for their personal and professional needs. 

While we try to keep a look out for the latest on what’s happening with you, we will miss what we can’t catch as there are just so many amazing things you are doing! So feel free to add us to your email newsletters, media lists and let us know if you have some news to share! While we can’t guarantee everything you send will be posted, we will do our best to highlight all of you! And most importantly, don’t forget to give shout outs to each other! Part of the Shop Local message is stength in numbers- locals doing business with other locals. So let’s all work together to show some local love and make a difference in our community today!

Share your great news with the Shop Local Raleigh team today.

Shop Local Raleigh Member Facebook Group 

Join the Shop Local Raleigh Facebook group page to ask questions of fellow business owners, share best practices, questions answered, and more. This group is keep private, just for members, so you can make the most of this connecting opportunity with fellow business owners just like you.