While the Black Friday ads have lured in the masses for big sales, local merchants in New Orleans hope shoppers will consider buying some presents in the city.
There are many shops across the area, like Baba Blankets and Gifts in the Lower Garden District ready to provide unique gifts to people. It sells items hand crafted by women from across the globe.
"When you’re buying this gift you’re supporting women and girls in Ghana, you’re supporting women and girls in Uganda, you're supporting women and girls in Guatemala and Ecuador and Indonesia, the Himalayas," said Jarlyn Johnson.
The Urban Conservancy is promoting "Stay Local" in stores and businesses across Orleans Parish.
They would like to see more traffic in areas, like the busineses on Bayou Road in Treme.
Vera Warren-Williams runs the Community Book Center, and realizes she is competing with i-Pads and Kindles.
"It’s always good to have a gift that you can open again and again and a book is certainly that, and once the batteries have run down and the excitement of the bells and whistles have gone away, a good book is something you can not only learn from, but it’s also entertaining," Warren-Williams said.
A new logo will soon be seen at stores that reads: "Give the gift that gives back to New Orleans."
"You’re helping your small business owner grow, which in turn helps you grow. You’re helping your eighborhoods look better because when your eighborhoods look better, your city looks better," said Christy Williams with the Urban Conservancy Board.
If you would like to learn more about shops in New Orleans just click staylocal.org
