Merchants urge shoppers to look close to home first

Betty Black, co-owner of Salisbury Emporium, visits with customers Tammy Grubb and Tina Safrit of Salisbury. Merchants like Black are encouraging people to shop locally this holiday season. Photo by Emily Ford

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African dwarf frogs for the pet lover at Just the Thing. $19.99

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Aerator for the wine lover at Salisbury Wine Shop. $38.99

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Soy candles, perfect for teachers, at Grayshores Trading Co. $7.50

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Bug investigator for kids who love the outdoors at Creative Teaching Aids. $21.99

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Stocking stuffers for the musician at String Fellows Music. $1 to $25

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By Emily Ford

eford@salisburypost.com

SALISBURY — You might not find everything on your holiday gift list in Salisbury, but merchants here sure hope you’ll try.

Shopping local saves gas, money and headaches, they say. For every $100 spent at a local independent business, $25 more stays in the community, according to a 2008 study commissioned by Local First.

“Local people should think about how important it is to them, as well as to the merchants, to shop locally,” said Mickey Black, co-owner of the Salisbury Emporium. “It keeps Salisbury thriving like Salisbury should.”

Salisbury has dozens of retailers downtown, as well as independently owned businesses like Windsor Gallery and The Comic Monstore, ready to help you find the perfect gift with over-the-top customer service.

“Service is where we have to shine, because sometimes we can’t match the big-box price,”said Charlie Smith, owner of Rufty’s Garden Shop, who will identify weeds or bugs brought into the store and tell customers how to handle them.

If someone calls the Emporium looking for an item, Black said he will search for it. When customers check out with large parcels, an employee will pack the items and carry them to the car.

“Who else does that anymore?” he said.

Independently owned businesses go the extra mile, Black said.

And they carry unique gifts for every person on your list, from handwoven mohair scarves for the fashionista at Southern Spirit Gallery to voice and piano lessons for the budding singer-songwriter at Music With Caroline.

For the person who has it all, check out the Literary Bookpost for a good book.

“Try shopping Salisbury first,” Smith said.

A local store might have just what you’re looking for.

Gifts for the...

Pet lover

Dog collars $12.95, leashes $16.95

Ultimate Sports Apparel

African Dwarf Frogs Ecosystem $19.99

Just the Thing

Personalized pawprint photo frame $12.95

Creative Teaching Aids

Foodie

Brie and bread bakers under $30

Pottery 101

Hard-to-find spices like Chinese five spice powder and Star Anise under $3

Yoder’s Amish Market

Make a gift bag of N.C. products including peanuts, Cheerwine cakes, stick candy from Piedmont Candy Company in Lexington, Moravian cookies from Salem Bakery, muscadine and scuppernong non-alcoholic wines and jellies from Advance, honey from Mt. Ulla and more. Filled burlap gift bags with state logo around $25.

Salisbury Emporium

Moroccan cookware by Tagine $96.95

Queen’s Gifts

Wooden sushi slicing playset $19.99

Just the Thing

Rosa's Cheese Straws, made by two sisters in Advance using their great-grandmother’s recipe $8

Salisbury Wine Shop

Handmade casseroles and cookware for every budget

Southern Spirit Gallery

Bottled syrups in more than 60 flavors that can be used for hot or cold drinks, on top of ice cream and of course on snowballs $8.50, refills $5.50

Frost Bites

Wine lover

Wine bottle sweaters $11.95, wine racks starting at $54.95

Queen’s Gifts

Vinturi Wine Aerator $38.99

Salisbury Wine Shop

Wine bags $7.50

Grayshores Trading Co.

Art lover

Original oil portrait, prices upon request

Mark Stephenson Painting, Portraiture and Fine Art

Hand-painted pendants by local artist Annette Hall $12 to $40

Stitchin’ Post Gifts

Custom frames starting at $10

Fine Frame Gallery

Pastel lace pottery by local artists from $9 to $65

Southern Spirit Gallery

Sports fan

Footballs starting at $10.99

Bernhardt Hardware

Fleece hoodies, jackets, pants, beanies and more $10 to $55

Ultimate Sports Apparel

Gardener

Gardening tools starting at $4.99

Bernhardt Hardware

Pecan picker-upper $45

Godley’s Garden Center

Spring-blooming bulbs starting at 99 cents

Rufty’s Garden Shop

Best gardening gloves on the face of the earth $6.99

Stitchin’ Post Gifts

Chameleon Watering can $12.99

Creative Teaching Aids

Educator

Make a kitchen gift set including towel, silicone hook and utensil $10 to $15

Queen’s Gifts

Write-on and wipe-off magnetic dice $17.99

Creative Teaching Aids

ID badge jewelry $9.99

Just the Thing

Soy votive candles in wonderful scents $7.50

Grayshores Trading Co.

Outdoor lover

Oakley sunglasses starting at $90

Ultimate Sports Apparel

GeoSafari Bug Scene Investigator $21.99

Creative Teaching Aids

Bird feeders starting at $29

Godley’s Garden Center

Leisure Lawns patio and deck furniture. Price varies based on material.

Rufty’s Garden Shop

Squap catch and throw craze $24.99

Just the Thing

Fashionista

TUK vegan platform high heels with buckles $65

Dead Ed’s Alternative Clothing

Handwoven mohair wraps and scarves $50 to $150

Southern Spirit Gallery

One-of-a-kind accessories featuring handcrafted jewel sets and more $20 and up

A Little Sumthin’ Sumthin’

Not Your Daughter’s Jeans starting at $80

Stitchin’ Post Gifts

Musician

Picks, strings, tuners and other stocking stuffers $1 to $25

String Fellows Music

Music of Spheres tuned wind chimes starting at $89

Rufty’s Garden Shop

Piano or voice lessons $18/30 min. $35/60 min.

Music With Caroline

Where to buy

Queen’s Gifts

221 S. Main St.

704-633-7988

Stitchin' Post Gifts

104 S. Main St.

704-637-0708

A Little Sumthin’ Sumthin’

117 West Innes St.

704-245-6461

Grayshores Trading Co.

119 S Main St

704-245-6459

Creative Teaching Aids

310 S. Main St.

704-633-8836

Southern Spirit Gallery

102 South Main St.

704-633-0761

Frost Bites

207 S. Main St.

704-637-3610

Mark Stephenson Painting, Portraiture and Fine Art

110 S. Main St. Suite A

mark@wornbristles.com

Salisbury Emporium

230 E. Kerr St.

704-642-0039  

Salisbury Wine Shop

106 S. Main St.

704 636-5151

Ultimate Sports Apparel

114 South Main Street

704-637-5144

Dead Ed’s Alternative Clothing

123 East Innes St

704-245-6464

Just the Thing!

103 N. Main Street

704-636-0910

Music With Caroline

110 S. Main St. Suite A

ncmusicteacher@gmail.com

Rufty's Garden Shop

1335 W. Innes St.

704-636-4742

Yoder's Amish Market

4077 Statesville Boulevard

704-636-5660

Godley’s Garden Center & Nursery

2281 Statesville Boulevard

704-638-0082

String Fellows Music

105 N. Main St.

704-639-1116

Bernhardt Hardware

113 N. Main St.

704-633-7500

Fine Frame Gallery

105 S. Main St.

704-647-0340

Pottery 101

101 S. Main St.

704-209-1632

Contact reporter Emily Ford at 704-797-4264.