Individuals across the Monadnock Region pledge to wear plaid on November 23rd to show their support for the local economy

Monadnock Buy Local's ninth annual Plaid Friday Event is set for Friday, November 23, 2018.  Individuals will wear plaid on Plaid Friday to show support for the local economy and their commitment to spending more of their dollars at locally owned businesses during the holiday season. Last year, over 260 community members pledged to participate in Plaid Friday.

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To amplify this year's event, Savings Bank of Walpole will host a Plaid Friday Launch Week from Wednesday, November 21 to Wednesday, November 28.  The bank will set up information tables at each of their branches with Plaid Friday swag to inspire more people to participate in this year's event.  Community members are encouraged to wear plaid during the launch week and stop by the bank's Marlboro Street branch to take a selfie in front of the bank's Plaid Friday backdrop.  Savings Bank of Walpole will then share these photos on social media to further promote this event.

"With Savings Bank of Walpole (SBW) being the community's local bank, we want to show our support for our local businesses," said Danielle Ruffo, Savings Bank of Walpole's new Community Engagement Coordinator.  "SBW serves many customers in our community -- and keeping your money local is what we are all about.  Supporting Plaid Friday and the 'Shift Your Shopping' movement is all part of helping our local community thrive and grow."

Plaid Friday celebrates the diversity and creativity of local and independent businesses. It's a fun and festive alternative to the "Black Friday" consumer frenzy perpetuated by big box stores. It's also a great way for the community to show its support for Monadnock Buy Local -- a network of locally owned businesses, organizations and individuals working to build a stronger local, green and fair economy.  This event originated in Oakland, CA with the intent to bring back the times when shopping for friends and family was a pleasurable and leisurely activity.
 
"All in all, Plaid Friday is gaining momentum.  It's safe to say that 80-90% of people who stopped in [during last year's Plaid Friday] were wearing plaid," said Ted McGreer, owner of Ted's Shoe & Sport.  "Shopping, not asking for deals, just happy to support a local shop...  That felt great." 
 
A growing list of locally owned businesses will serve as Plaid Friday Hubs, photographing customers decked out in plaid and answering questions about this event.  View our list of Plaid Friday Hubs.

Local photographer Beth Pelton from Eight Cattail Imagery will host a Plaid Friday Photo Booth inside Harrisville Designs, located at 4 Mill Alley in Harrisville, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. In Keene, Ted's Shoe & Sport at 115 Main Street will host a Plaid Friday Photo Booth inside the store with Luxury Box Photo Booth, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.  Monadnock Buy Local will add all of the photos taken to their annual collage, celebrating all who wore plaid: bit.ly/MBLplaidfriday.
 
A number of Monadnock Buy Local members will offer specials to honor the day and thank community members for their support.  LuvInk&Paper in Keene will offer a Plaid Friday Holiday Card Buffet at their 103 Roxbury Street - Suite 306 studio from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and Joseph's Coat in Peterborough will give 10% off any in-store merchandise to all customers wearing plaid.   Stay tuned for more specials and events. 

Plaid Friday is part of the "Shift Your Shopping" movement in the Monadnock region.  From November 1 to December 31, Monadnock Buy Local encourages residents to choose local and independent businesses for more of their holiday purchases.

The Monadnock Region's Plaid Friday event is sponsored by Badger Balm, Brie & Vessie, Brown Computer Solutions, Cheshire Garden, The Cheshire Horse, The Dragonfly Shop, The Farm Concessions & Cafe, Flawlyss Skin, Hannah Grimes Marketplace, Harrisville Designs, Hobbs Jewelers, The Inn at East Hill Farm, Joseph's Coat, LuvINK&Paper, Luxury Box Photo Booth, Mayfair Farm, MB Massage Studio, Monadnock Food Co-op, Nest - Children's Shop, One Stop Country Pet Supply, Savings Bank of Walpole, Steele's Stationers, Ted's Shoe & Sport, Toadstool Bookshops, VizionZ, Walpole Mountain View Winery and The Yoga Space.