News Summary
Asheville has officially designated July as Independent Retailer Month to promote local businesses. Supported by various organizations, the initiative encourages residents and visitors to shift spending to local shops. Explore Asheville is launching the 2025 Asheville Indie Retail Challenge, featuring an app that highlights 239 independent retailers. The campaign aims to boost community engagement and economic resilience, urging consumers to redirect 10% of their spending to support local businesses. Various incentives are provided to encourage participation during this month-long celebration of independent retailers.
Asheville has officially designated July 2025 as Independent Retailer Month, a strategic move aimed at promoting local businesses throughout the area. This declaration, made on June 27, is part of a broader initiative spearheaded by several organizations, including Go Local Asheville, Merchants of Downtown Asheville (MODA), and the Asheville Downtown Association. The month-long campaign encourages both residents and visitors to support independent retailers by shifting a portion of their spending from national chains to local shops.
To stimulate engagement during Independent Retailer Month, Explore Asheville is launching the 2025 Asheville Indie Retail Challenge. This initiative includes several interactive components designed to attract shoppers to explore local offerings. Central to the challenge is the Explore Asheville app, which allows users to access a comprehensive map highlighting 239 independent retailers across Asheville and Buncombe County. Incentives for participation include a prize drawing for an Asheville Goodie Bag, with entries earned by checking in at participating stores within the app — five check-ins count as one entry.
The prize drawing winner will be selected randomly in early August, encouraging more frequent visits to local retailers throughout the month. Participants can enhance their shopping experience by taking part in a Shop & Win Scavenger Hunt, which offers opportunities to win a basket filled with locally-made goods and tickets to Biltmore estate.
The initiative is compelling, particularly as it seeks to foster a sense of community and economic resilience. By promoting the Shift 10 Pledge, the campaign urges consumers to redirect 10% of their monthly spending from larger national chain stores or online retailers to local independent businesses throughout July. This approach emphasizes the economic impact of supporting local economies, with studies indicating that locally owned businesses circulate three times more money back into the area compared to chain stores.
Community engagement remains a critical aspect of the initiative, which aims to increase awareness of independent retail businesses’ contributions to the local economy. Organizers have developed a toolkit tailored for local businesses that includes social media graphics, storytelling prompts, and signage options to enhance visibility and participation during this important month.
Amid the backdrop of recent regional challenges, such as the effects of Hurricane Helene, the push for supporting local businesses is particularly pertinent. The organizers hope that this campaign will help foster recovery efforts, reminding the community of the value and resilience of independent retailers in Asheville.
Overall, the month-long celebration aligns with a national movement to recognize and support independent businesses, and it seeks to create lasting change that extends beyond July. The full toolkit and pledge form are accessible on the Explore Asheville website, encouraging local businesses to participate actively and consumers to engage with the thriving community of independent retailers in the region.
By participating in the Asheville Indie Retail Challenge, residents and visitors not only have the chance to win prizes but also play a crucial role in sustaining the local economy and preserving the unique character of Asheville’s shopping landscape.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
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Additional Resources
- WLOS: Explore Asheville Celebrates Independent Retailer Month
- Garden & Gun: Three Easy Ways to Help the Asheville Area
- Outdoor Sports Wire: Grassroots Outdoor Alliance Welcomes Specialty Vendors
- Mountain X: Toy Stores Focus on Nostalgia and Mystery
- Wikipedia: Independent Retailer
Author: STAFF HERE ASHEVILLE WRITER
ASHEVILLE STAFF WRITER The ASHEVILLE STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREAsheville.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Asheville, Buncombe County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as the Asheville Bread Festival, LEAF Festival, and mountain sports tournaments at Biltmore Estate. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce and Explore Asheville Convention & Visitors Bureau, plus leading businesses in hospitality and brewing that power the local economy such as the Biltmore Estate and Sierra Nevada Brewing Company. As part of the broader HERE network, including HERECharlotte.com, HEREGreensboro.com, HERERaleigh.com, and HEREOBX.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into North Carolina's dynamic landscape.
