Shop Local

Uniquely Park Slope

How local businesses define, and are defined by, the community

By Florence Wang

What makes one neighborhood different from another? According to the Princeton dictionary, a neighborhood can be defined as "an area within a city or town that has some distinctive features, especially ones forming a community." These "distinctive features" create a personality which is formed by the residents, local business owners, and the people who work here. The residents provide the backbone while local businesses supply character, color and originality; together these build the complete community.

In recent years, a number of studies have been released showing the importance of shopping locally and how doing so directly impacts the community. Results from studies conducted in San Francisco, Maine, Texas and Pennsylvania found that shopping at local businesses keeps nearly three times the amount of money in the local economy, compared with shopping at national chains. Local businesses re-circulate revenue back into the community by using local suppliers, creating new jobs and generating sales tax. When used by local businesses, these tax dollars can affect local policy and sponsor neighborhood events and beautification efforts. Even beyond influencing a business's goods and services, local ownership means that important neighborhood decisions are made by people who live in the community.

In many cases, the money spent supports a local resident. Since 1971, Zuzu's Petals has provided Park Slope residents with flowers to celebrate special occasions as well as to brighten up the ordinary days. According to owner, Fonda Sara everyone who has ever worked in the shop has lived in the Park Slope.

Zuzu's Petals favors a style that matches the tastes and personality of a neighborhood comprised mostly of brownstones, which Fonda describes as "Victorian yet casual." Arrangements are handmade, one-of-a-kind creations that suit your purpose and personality. "We tend towards the immoderate and fabulously excessive rather than the simple sleek and modern," says Fonda. Building their reputation over the years strengthened ties with the community. When a devastating fire forced Zuzu's Petals to move from their original Seventh Avenue location after thirty-five years, it was their customers who helped them move to their new location. "Our customers gave us seed money and a mandate to rebuild," says Fonda. "Without their support we would not have been able to recover so quickly."

Local businesses provide top-notch service. Buying locally means that you have more of a direct connection to the business owner. In 2007 Honey Moon opened her vintage store, 1 of a Find, sharing her passion for vintage clothing. In her carefully curated collection, you'll find clothing and accessories from the 1920's to the 1980's. She keeps her prices affordable, which means you can purchase something beautiful guilt-free. The quick turnover also means that her stock rotates frequently.

Located on Lincoln Place, 1 of Find is a real boutique. "Our small space allows one on one contact with every customer who comes in," says Honey. Creating such a welcoming atmosphere means that customers frequently pop by to chat. Shopping at 1 of a Find is like having a personal shopper. "Our customers become friends," says Honey. It makes shopping with us personal and if they want the attention, we are happy to give it."

Local businesses also cater to the community itself. Eight years ago Melinda and David Morris opened Lion in the Sun because, as Melinda explains, "I saw a real need in the neighborhood for quality creative cards, wrap, and most significantly, custom invites." Park Slope has its own aesthetic, which she describes as "eclectic, modern, edgy and a bit vintage." The Seventh Avenue store stocks fine papers and stationary, custom invitations, writing materials and journals as well as baby gifts and photo albums â everything you need to celebrate and share the special occasions in life.

"Being such a community-oriented place it seemed like an obvious fit for a business that specialized in celebrating life's happy occasions and milestones," Melinda says. "By working for young couples just moving here, getting married, becoming new parents, celebrating birthdays, bar and bat mitzvahs, or anniversaries we feel like we have a special place in the fabric of the community." Lion in the Sun also promotes local artists with their Made In Brooklyn portfolio featuring images of Brooklyn and New York. "Brooklyn is teaming with creative artists," says Melinda. "We love representing local artists and their products"

Kat Ridel sees "new families, old families and the grandparents of both" in her store, Fiber Notion. Located on Union Street, Fiber Notion provides fabric and supplies for designers and hand-crafters in the neighborhood. On a given day teens stock up on floss for their next round of friendship bracelets and thirty-somethings looking for the spark of inspiration for their next sewing projects. Reflecting the people of the Slope, Kat describes her business as "a wonderful mix of fashion-forward blended with the tried and true."

As you continue to support a local business a symbiotic relationship develops, providing you as a consumer with direct influence on the products and services available. In 2002, when Park Slope moms Jada Shapiro and Ann Merrill noticed a lack of resources for parents-to-be, they opened Birth Day Presence. Both certified in doula and Lamaze® childbirth education, the space added a much-needed resource to the community.

With their reputation growing as a local, home-grown childbirth education, so did their space. Five years later, they added the Birth Day Presence Studio when they saw their clients from Park Slope going to childbirth education classes in Manhattan. "There were a few great options here, but they filled quickly," explains Jada. "We knew we had to open a dedicated space to support families through the childbearing years and beyond." Their Eighth Street location features a lovely and comfortable living room-like space offering pregnancy meet-ups, breastfeeding and newborn care classes, early bird classes as well as classes and support groups for new parents.

As you stroll the streets of Park Slope this holiday season, notice the individual businesses owned by your neighbors. They take special pride in being part of this community. Working and shopping with them you will build relationships that make this community even stronger. Some of those relationships may last a life-time.