There has been a slew of recent local business closures from restaurants to retail. To help more of our favorite businesses make it to 2026, let’s commit to shift more of our spending locally in 2025. Especially RIGHT NOW. 

Winter in Maine is tough for locally owned, independent businesses. Sales are down, and costs are up. Even with busy summers and holiday sales, some don’t make it through to the next busy season. Yes, buying from large online retailers is easy, especially when it’s cold and dark outside. But understand, when you buy from national chains and franchises, little to none of your money stays in the community.

While it’s tempting to order everything from your couch, it guts the local economy and harms our community. Also admit it, it’s boring. Winter is the perfect time to enjoy all the local restaurants without the crowds, snuggle up at your local coffee shop, visit that cute shop you follow on Instagram, or connect with friends at local events. When you choose local, you keep local businesses in business.

So, Maine up, pull on your LL Bean boots and make 2025 the year you shift more of your spending locally.Need some help? We got you. 

Here’s your guide to prioritizing local over large corporations. And remember, your local businesses need your support all year round, especially this winter. 

1. Find Local Businesses

• Use community directories (like ours!) from buy local coalitions, neighborhood groups, arts organizations, tourism boards, and business associations. In addition to ours, we’ve linked many local Southern Maine resources below. 
• Visit local farmer’s markets, craft fairs, and art shows. 
• Ask for recommendations from friends and family.
• When you find a local business you love, ask them for their favorites too.

2. Assess Your Needs

• List products or services you use often, like groceries, dining, gifts, or home repairs.
• Match needs to local providers: farms and food coops, independent restaurants, small boutiques, local makers, a locally owned hardware store, etc.
• Keep a list of local businesses you like on your phone for future reference. 

3. Plan Your Purchases

• Budget for local spending. Yes, prices may be slightly higher, but it’s worth it.
• Make a list of local options versus chains, franchises, and national corporations for products and services you purchase often. 
• Buy seasonal items to save money and support sustainability.
  

4. Choose Local First

• Shop in-person or order online from local stores.
• Use independent service providers for home or personal needs.
• Join loyalty programs for discounts and local updates. 

5. Support and Advocate

• Leave reviews and share local businesses on social media.
• Recommend favorites to friends and family.
• Attend community events and donate to buy local campaigns.

6. Stay Committed

• Make local shopping a habit.
• Stay informed about small business challenges.
• Encourage others to buy local.

By following these steps, you’ll help build a vibrant local economy where everyone can choose local first. 

Buy Local Resources

Here are some websites that can help you find local businesses, events, restaurants, and activities in Greater Portland, Maine. Have some suggestions, send to info@portlandbuylocal.org. 

Note: these sites may include some listings for businesses and events that are not locally owned and independent.

Portland Buy Local Business Directory – Locally owned, independent businesses serving Greater Portland. Add yours right now for free!

Black Owned Maine – A directory of black owned businesses and entrepreneurs. Includes technical assistance and consulting services as well. 

Creative Portland – A free app to help you explore Portland area galleries, museums, performing arts, and other arts related places and experiences.

Portland Downtown - Includes a guidebook of downtown Portland businesses, walking tours, events, and parking locations. 

Portland Farmer’s Market – A large, year-round market for local produce, goods, and so much more. 

Portland Food Map – The definitive guide to Portland’s food scene including a list of current restaurants, breaking news, new openings, closures, and more.

Portland Old Port – A great place to find out local events, shops, restaurants and more. Don’t miss their Weekend Guide!

Portland Regional Chamber of Commerce – Business listings including many local businesses and events in the Portland region. 

Visit Portland – A resource for planning a trip or event in Portland, Maine. Includes event venues, tourist activities, hospitality and more. 

Outside Portland

Keep it Local Maine – Offers a print publication, social media, and podcast that features local businesses in the Greater Portland region. 

Scarborough Buy Local – A listing of local businesses in the town of Scarborough. 

Downtown Westbrook – A Main Street organization with a listing of events, a business directory, community calendar and more. 

Friends,

Portland Buy Local is now 16 years young, coming of age after some very difficult years for our local business community. Like many others, Portland Buy Local struggled to raise money and retain and recruit volunteers these past few years. As the need for our pandemic related assistance dwindled, the board questioned if there was still a need for this organization. Many of us felt strongly there was, and we heard from many of you that you agreed. 

We spent the spring and summer talking with local businesses, community partners, and similar organizations. What we found was that Portland Buy Local is highly regarded, the buy local movement remains strong, and many other great organizations are promoting and advocating for Portland’s small businesses as well. We’re grateful for the many area non-profits and businesses helping to carry the buy local movement today.  

So where does this organization fit? We’ve determined that our primary mission hasn’t really changed, but that we need to narrow our focus and think bigger. Portland Buy Local exists for two primary reasons. First, to educate our residents and visitors why they should choose local and how and where to do it. And second, to provide support to our locally owned, independent businesses giving them the resources they need to thrive. Through this work, we envision a community of local, independent businesses that do well and in turn do good. 

They are profitable, successful, great places to work, and they meet the needs and make investments in the health of their community.

If you believe it’s possible, it usually is. Our small business owners know this, and they and their employees make the impossible possible every day. You’ve probably heard the Les Brown quote “If you shoot for the moon, even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars.” Since we’re already in the presence of stars (gazing at you our local businesses), here are some of our moonshot goals, all of which we believe are possible. 

First, we will be researching a transition of the organization to a 501C3 nonprofit. This will make us eligible for foundation and government grants as well as larger private and corporate donations to increase our impact for our members and the community at large.  

Second, in keeping with our narrowed focus, we will create a series of educational events as well as build a network to provide ongoing, in-depth assistance in the areas our small business community needs most, like marketing, strategic planning, finance, real estate, and human resources. 

At the most basic this will include at least bi-monthly in person, online, and recorded Q & A sessions with local professionals. This fall will include sessions on real estate leases, social media marketing, and managing employees. Stay tuned for dates.

Since we’re also thinking bigger, we will begin organizing a day long Indie Biz summit and gala to provide educational sessions on a wide variety of business and buy local topics relevant to businesses and consumers alike. We hope to host this late spring of 2023.

And perhaps the biggest idea, is the Indie Biz Support Network. We want to build a network of businesses helping businesses. Local, independent businesses will apply to be paired with others, large or small, and receive comprehensive, practical learning and assistance in their areas of need. 

Third, to continue to provide impactful messaging and education, we need up-to-date statistics. The data we’ve shared in the past is between five and 20 years old.  It’s time, we gather new information, at the local level. We plan to start on a long-term project to facilitate a study to quantify the financial and community benefits local, independent businesses provide to our people and region. 

These are big goals, and achieving them will require partnerships, funding, and volunteers.  If this vision resonates with you, please join us. Donate, join or rejoin as a member, and volunteer on a committee. 

Thank you for your support, be well and buy local. 

Regards,

The Portland Buy Local Board of Directors Executive Committee
Amy Landry, Tom Gangewer, John Crane, Amber McDonald