One way to explore local shopping — and create a unique bracelet — is Pendleton’s Charm Trail. To build one, visit local businesses and attractions to purchase souvenirs and create a bracelet. For a list of charm sites, visit travelpendleton.com/things-to-do/charm-trail.

The holiday season is upon us, and that means most weekends you can find a holiday bazaar or stores will stay open late to welcome shoppers searching for that perfect gift.

This season, and all year long, be sure that local is your first option — every town in Eastern Oregon offers something unique, and many stores are locally owned by folks who support the community by donating to fundraisers or sponsoring a local sports team.

“So many of these dollars stay local — support somebody who supports you, supports your kids,” said Ariel Reker, executive director of Baker City Downtown.

That sentiment is echoed by Jennifer Piper, executive director of the Wallowa County Chamber of Commerce.

“I encourage people to look where they’re making purchases and look who they’re supporting by doing that. Stop and think for a moment,” Piper said.

Promoting local shopping

Several Eastern Oregon counties have devised a way to encourage local shopping with special certificates that can be spent at businesses just like cash.

Unlike gift certificates, which can only be spent at one place, these “dollars” can be used at a variety of places across the county.

Greenbacks

The Grant County program is called Greenbacks, which can be purchased at the Grant County Chamber of Commerce, 301 W. Main St. in John Day. The program, which started in 2015, is going strong, according to chamber Director Tammy Bremner. To date, the chamber has reimbursed more than $200,000 to local businesses.

“This is a great way to keep dollars in Grant County,” Bremner said.

As a bonus, a Greenbacks contest starts this week — to participate, shoppers bring a receipt to the chamber office showing they have shopped at a local business, and then their name is entered in a drawing for $500 in Greenbacks.

The receipt can be from any Grant County business. The winner will be drawn the week before Christmas.

Baker Bucks

The Baker County Chamber’s program is called Baker Bucks, which can be purchased at the chamber, 490 Campbell St. in Baker City, in amounts of $10, $20, $25 or $50. Then, these Bucks can be used just like cash at more than 50 businesses around the county. The chamber reimburses the businesses for 100% of the value.

Buckskin Bucks

Wallowa County’s local tender is called Buckskin Bucks, which can be purchased in increments of $10 or $20 at the Wallowa County Chamber, 101 W. Main St. in Enterprise.

The chamber launched a “Buy Local Blitz” this month to encourage support of local businesses. Through Dec. 20, shoppers at any Wallowa County Chamber of Commerce affiliated business — there are more than 300 — who make a minimum $10 purchase can enter the receipt at the chamber for a weekly drawing of $50 in Buckskin Bucks.

At the end of the Blitz, all receipts are entered into a drawing for the grand prize of $1,000 Buckskin Bucks. Receipts are limited to one receipt per business, per person, per day. The grand prize drawing will be held before Christmas.

Finding the makers

A number of shops across Eastern Oregon offer a one-stop experience to find a wide variety of items created by local crafters, artists and artisans.

An easy example is to visit an art center, which can be found in every county. Most have special shows this season featuring ornaments, pottery, paintings and much more — all created by local residents.

Another option is to visit a shop that stocks locally made creations, such as Birds on a Wire and Ruffled Features Boutique in Baker City, or “A Piece of Pendleton,” which is run by the Pendleton Underground Tours.

“We carry anything that is made locally in Pendleton or in the surrounding areas or that represents Pendleton. We have over 80 local makers,” said Brooke Armstrong, executive director of Pendleton Underground.

In La Grande, The Market Place has expanded the local farmers market offerings by stocking local beef, pickles, cheeses and more.

If you need some help finding these local hot spots for shopping, a good resource is the local chamber of commerce office. (See the breakout box for details.)

Special programs

Some counties run special events all year long to help shoppers support small businesses.

For instance, the Union County Chamber’s “Sip, Shop, Repeat, Local” is the first Thursday of each month in downtown La Grande. The chamber sells a tumbler for $20, which is a passport to the local businesses and restaurants that stay open late to welcome visitors.

In Baker City, the downtown associate organizes a quarterly wine walk that supports a local nonprofit while encouraging locals to explore the downtown businesses.

In Pendleton, the “charm trail” encourages local exploration with the opportunity to visit 40 different Pendleton stores and destinations to buy a unique charm, from a guitar at Pendleton Music Company to an airplane at the Pendleton Air Museum. The signature “Pendleton” charm can be found at the five trailhead stops: Pendleton Chamber of Commerce, Heritage Station Museum, Pendleton Woolen Mills, CHI St. Anthony Hospital gift shop and the Pendleton KOA.

GO LOCAL

For tips on supporting local businesses, check with your chamber:

• Baker County Chamber of Commerce
  • 490 Campbell St., Baker City
  • visitbaker.com
  • Grant County Chamber of Commerce
  • 301 W. Main St., John Day
  • gcoregonlive.com
  • Hermiston Chamber of Commerce
  • 630 S. Highway 395, Hermiston
  • hermistonchamber.com
  • Pendleton Chamber of Commerce
  • 501 S. Main St., Pendleton
  • pendletonchamber.com
  • travelpendleton.com
  • Union County Chamber of Commerce
  • 207 Depot St., La Grande
  • visitunioncounty.org
  • Wallowa County Chamber of Commerce

  101 W. Main St., Enterprise

wallowacountychamber.com