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Buy Nearby Summer Bucket List

Looking for creative ways to support Michigan’s retailers this summer?

The Buy Nearby Guy has a full list of great recommendations. How many items can you check off before Labor Day?

  • Visit a small town and peruse their downtown. Explore the locally-owned shops, markets, and stores and see what unique goods you discover off the beaten path. 
  • Stay at a Michigan campground or resort. Visit somewhere new in Michigan and support Michigan’s travel and tourism retailers. 
  • Rent outdoor equipment and get active outside. Try something new like kayaking, tubing, paddle boarding, biking, or water skiing. You might find a new hobby you love. 
  • Check out a craft beer tour. Michigan has a great reputation for our craft beer scene. 
  • Barbecue meat from a local butcher. 
  • Buy jelly, jam, or honey from a local farmer’s market. See if you can find local bread while you’re there! If not, check out a local bakery’s supply.
  • Enjoy an ice cream cone from a local ice cream shop. Bonus points if the ice cream is Michigan-made too!
  • Put together a bouquet of fresh flowers from a farm stand. 
  • Eat a meal using only locally-sourced food from locally-owned businesses. Challenge yourself to see how local you can get all your ingredients for a meal.
  • Spend a morning at a local cafe or bookshop with a coffee. 
  • Support a Michigan artist. Find a new piece of decor for your home from a local gallery or store featuring Michigan-made art. Prints, paintings, sculptures, and more. 
  • Visit a Michigan festival. Our downtowns know how to spend a summer! Look for the local art fairs, musical celebrations, farmers markets, and annual festivals that make Michigan great. 
  • Take on a summer home project with products from a locally-owned hardware. From paint to lumber, and grass seed to landscape bricks, you can find a lot at your local hardware. 
  • Buy a birthday gift from a local specialty store. Yes, gift cards count!
  • Enjoy live entertainment at a local venue. 
  • Send a Michigan postcard in the mail. Your out-of-state friends will love some snail mail!
  • Get your back-to-school supplies locally. Watch for sales all summer long to find great deals at local retailers on all things back to school. 
  • Support your favorite Michigan business online. Shout them out on social media, leave them a great Google review, and offer recommendations in local online forums. 

Save the Date: Buy Nearby Weekend, Oct. 3-5, 2025!

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