Shop Locally for Valentine’s Day

Shop locally in NYC for Valentine’s Day. Order directly from NYC websites. Write positive reviews about NYC businesses. Buy gift cards from NYC businesses. Buy gifts from NYC museum stores. Send love letters to NYC.

And when you send “shout outs” on social media for NYC, use #SmallBusinessSweetie

Queens Economic Development Corporation’s MadeInQueens program has joined forces with 43 other business boosters across New York City to deliver messages of love and support to small businesses via the Sweethearts Shop Local program, which runs through Valentine’s Day (aka Feb. 14).

MIQ asks the general public to buy products from the below list and promote them on social media channels with the #SmallBusinessSweetie slogan, including – .

Callio Fragrance: Perfumes in a wide range of scents. Plus gift cards, sets, and travel packages.

Culiraw: Raw vegan desserts. Plus, free decoration on nine-inch Valentine’s Day cakes.

Lavender Works: Environmentally friendly body scrubs, soaps, and balms made by low-functioning adults with autism.

MumsKitchens NYC: Brownies, cookies, bars, and Caribbean treats available in special gift boxes.

My Works of Art: Oil paintings, drawings, and custom portraits made by a local artist.

R+D Designs: Fun, kitschy, 3D-printed jewelry. Introducing the new “Keep it Simple, Cupid” collection.

Raw Bliss Balls: Raw vegan snack balls in a variety of flavors.

Sandra Smith: Bags, clutches, face masks, shirts, and pillows.

Sathē: Kimonos, blouses, shawls, and bags made by refugees.

Scent by Heaven: Candles, sachets, and air fresheners.

Tembo: Totes, masks, and bandannas handmade by a Bangladeshi women’s sewing cooperative.

Savvy shoppers from around the five boroughs will see these products.

#SmallBusinessSweetie came about when graduates of the Coro Neighborhood Leadership Program, whose mission is to learn how NYC works and improve it, celebrated their tenth anniversary recently. Many of the participating nonprofits are led by Coro grads.

“This initiative is raising awareness about the importance of shopping locally and supporting small businesses,” stated 82nd Street Partnership Executive Director Leslie Ramos. “By doing so, we help preserve jobs and protect our local economy.”

Here are all the participating organizations in all five boroughs.

Bronx:

• Jerome Gun Hill,
• Westchester Square BID,
• BJTBronx Commercial District,
• WHEDco,
• Southern Boulevard Merchant Association.

Brooklyn:

• Atlantic Avenue BID,
• Bay Ridge 5th Avenue BID,
• Bed-Stuy Gateway BID,
• Church Avenue BID,
• Cortelyou Road Merchants Association,
• Downtown Brooklyn Partnership,
• Dumbo Improvement District,
• FAB Fulton, Flatbush Avenue BID,
• Flatbush Nostrand Junction BID,
• Flatbush Development Corporation, (FDC),
• Grand Street BID, Montague St. BID,
• Myrtle Ave Brooklyn BID,
• Newkirk Merchant Association (NPMA),
• North Flatbush Avenue BID,
• Park Slope 5th Avenue BID,
• Pitkin Avenue, Sunset Park BID.

Manhattan:

• Chinatown BID/Partnership,
• Columbus Avenue BID,
• Greenwich Village Chelsea Chamber of Commerce,
• NoHo BID,
• Think!Chinatown,
• Times Square Alliance,
• East Village Independent Merchant Association,
• East Midtown Partnership,
• Union Square Partnership,
• Village Alliance.

Queens:

• 82nd Street/Jackson Heights,
• Bayside Village,
• Jamaica Center,
• Long Island City Partnership,
• Queens Economic Development Corporation/Made in Queens,
• Sunnyside Shines, Woodhaven BID.

Staten Island:

• Forest Avenue BID, Castleton Avenue Merchants Organization,
• Downtown Staten Island / SI Chamber of Commerce.

Images: Eriquita Campoverde