Great Press for Shop.Sip.Give | A Shop Crawl

Read the story posted October 8th

Great Press for Montclair IRW

Read the story posted on October 4th

Great Press for Montclair IRW

Read the story posted October 2nd

Read the story posted by Jen Chaky of Go Lightly on September 30th

Read the story posted this week.

Great Press for Montclair IRW

"Who needs malls?" Our point exactly! We are giving you 80 reasons to skip the mall next week...and here they are. The moment the idea of Montclair Independent Retail Week became a reality, we made the call to the Baristas. Without hesitation, those girls we have all come to follow like a latte fix were on board to help spread the word that shopping locally from October 2nd through 9th would be a rockin' good time. Thank you Debbie, Kristen, Georgette, Annette and Katie...and all the other lil' BaristaElves that work their magic!

Read the story posted September 29th

Read the story posted September 29th

IRW Highlight :: A Sugary Sunday

October 3rd | 1-3pM

Enjoy a collaborative Sweets Tasting with the CupcakeStop, Sweet Home Montclair and semplice. Sample mini cupcakes, chocolate covered pretzels and seasonal sandwich cookies and purchase to enjoy at home from the "pop up" shops at semplice. Plan your next stop on Sunday here...

Great Press for Montclair IRW

We've got a lot of indie love for our local media outlets that have provided so much support for Montclair Independent Retail Week. This event would not be possible without you. Here are a couple recent stories about the week-long event:

Read the story posted September 28th

Read the story printed September 23rd

IRW Highlight :: Cake for a Cause

October 3rd | 10AM-2PM

Vegan Bake Sale for the Sea at Go Lightly to benefit the Sea Shepard Conservation Society, the international non-profit, marine wildlife protectors whose mission it is to end the destruction of habitat and wildlife in the world's oceans in order to conserve and protect ecosystems and species. Just one of many charitable events during Montclair Independent Retail Week.

IRW Highlight :: Slang for Awesome

October 2nd | 7:30-10PM

Cosplay & Art Event at Sugee! {Japanese slang for awesome} in Watchung Plaza. Dress up as your favorite character from an anime, cartoon, movie, video game, manga, or comic book. Bring in your original fan art, manga, or comic drawings to display and share with your fellow fans. Event will include anime screenings, prizes, and refreshments. Montclair has something for everyone. See IRW events for all ages here...

Over 80 Reasons to Shop Local

We are giving you over 80 reasons to Shop Local everyday...see them.

IRW Highlight :: The Eyes Have It

Saturday, October 2nd

The ghoulish eyeballs that is! Visit Aunt Jean's Toys & Treats on I.R.W. kick-off day and take a guess at how many ghoulish eyeballs are in the jar. Winner receives a $50 Gift Card and will be notified on October 9th. One entry per family. Enjoy freshly popped popcorn all day long...Aunt Jean will keep it poppin' til 8PM. Just one of the great events on Saturday, October 2nd...see them all here.

IRW Highlight :: Fall Fashion Forecast

October 5th |Edition 1: 10AM -12PM | Edition 2: 7PM-9PM

Special Edition of the YOUR DESIGNseries program with Gina Stigi of By Design Interiors comes to ColorStoryHome on October 5th. This "special edition" is entitled "Fall Fashion Forecast" featuring the direction for both your home & you...including a look at the Fall footwear collection from Tory Janes. What else is happening on Tuesday of IRW? It's here...

IRW Highlight :: Scissors Cut Paper

Visit one of Montclair's newest indies, Rock Paper Scissors , anytime during IRW and enter the shop's drawing. Two lucky people will win a free one-or-two day craft workshop of their choice, plus a $25 gift certificate! One entry per family. Contest ends and winner announced on Saturday, October 9th at 1PM. Rock crushes paper...and indies rock Montclair!

IRW Highlight :: Feather Your Nest

Visit Nest & Company during IRW and receive a $15 Gift Card for every $50 spent {good towards a purchase October 10th - November 24th, 2010}. Also enjoy a week-long Door Pottery Trunk Show featuring new designs and one-of-a-kind studio pots. Extended hours for more browsing opportunities! Great promotions abound for IRW all around town...see them now.

IRW Highlight :: Be a Sole Winner

Better yet, be one of 3 lucky winners. Indie retail partners, Judy Typaldos and Camille Kessler of Piazza Della Sole will be offering three raffles for IRW: a Fall handbag by Clare Handbags, one year's worth of 20% off all footwear purchases, and a shopping party up to 2o guests. Only at an independent retailer! Count the reasons you love your locals beginning October 2nd. Plan your IRW stops now.

IRW Highlight :: Don't Go the Way of the Dinosaurs

Enter the "Don't Let Your Independent Retail Shops Go the Way of the Dinosaur" Contest at Little Cricket Antiques & Vintage Inspired Goods. Stop in for a chance to win a $100 Gift Certificate by guessing the correct number of dinosaurs in the very large jar. No purchase necessary. Winner will be announced on October 12th. See more IRW week-long events here...

IRW Highlight :: Win Wellmont Theatre Tickets

Win one of 5 pairs of concert tickets courtesy of The Wellmont Theatre each weekday of Montclair IRW. How? Simply like ShopLocalMontclair on Facebook or follow ShopLocalMtc on Twitter. Pledge your love for indie retail by helping us reach 1000 Fans during this week-long celebration of the independent spirit. Find your guide to IRW here...

Such a Tease.

With less than a month to go, we can't resist giving you the first peek at just some of the wonderful events that Montclair's prized retailers have got "in store." Click here.

It Takes a Community.

Just marveling at what is shaping up to be the largest retail event in Montclair. We are fast approaching 70 participating independent retailers and the list of unbelievably generous sponsors continues to grow. Just added to the roster:

ChicGalleria

SuzySaid

CleverCommute

Parent Times

However, none of this would be possible if it weren't for a small group of concerned neighbors and a seed of an idea. ShopLocalMontclair was borne of necessity in November 2008 when the retail outlook was quickly becoming bleak. Putting aside their competitive {independent} nature, these merchants chose to join together rather than stand alone. The founding members of ShopLocalMontclair know who they are...without them, this event would not be the un-mall marvel that it is sure to be!

More Retailers + More Sponsors = Bigger Party

Today, there are over 50 participating independent retailers. What will tomorrow bring? For more info, visit ShopLocalMontclair. A big thank you to our newest sponsors...The Hip Event, TV34 Montclair, and NJ.com. This event would not be possible without your generous support!

HOW DID IT HAPPEN?

Wondering how Montclair managed to host an Independent Retail Week with the likes of NYC, Philadelphia, Chicago and San Francisco? Well, you would have to ask Monika Emad of Olive Organic Tan Spa. Monika was the driving force who convinced Nolcha CEO, Kerry Bannigan, that our cool town of 39,000 with 2 zips was indie-week-worthy. We extend our big thanks to this indie owner for her commitment to putting Montclair on the indie-map!

WELCOME NEW SPONSORS

Montclair I.R.W. is thrilled to welcome a roster of new sponsors:

BaristaKids

Suburban Essex Magazine

New Jersey Jewish News

Image Magazine

New Jersey Monthly

Destination Montclair

The mission of Independent Retail Week is to spread the word statewide that shopping locally, supporting small business owners, is critical to the vitality of all New Jersey communities. We are grateful for the enthusiastic support of these amazing NJ media outlets.

30 INDIES AND COUNTING...

Are you a Montclair independent retailer? Join the week-long celebration of the small business owner spirit, Montclair Independent Retail Week :: October 2nd - 9th. Visit the ShopLocalMontclair website and click "participate"...we will forward all the details. Check this blog often to see the growing list of participating retailers.

GOOD PRESS ON BARISTANET

Thank you to Baristanet for getting the ball rolling... Montclair To Kick Off Indie Retail Week (Baristanet) Calling all Montclair indie retailers! Click here to tell us know you would like to participate in the week-long celebration. We will forward all the details.

INDIE BARISTANET JOINS THE INDIE PARTY

Montclair I.R.W would not be possible without the participation of indie media. Baristanet, our online source for local news and good "scoop," just pledged significant support for Montclair's first week-long celebration of independent retail. Baristanet has become a media force in Northern New Jersey, recently growing its coverage of Montclair, Bloomfield and Glen Ridge to include Maplewood, Millburn, South Orange and West Orange. We are thrilled to have them on board!

MONTCLAIR I.R.W. BROUGHT TO YOU BY

Montclair's first Independent Retail Week is brought to you by Nolcha, in partnership with ShopLocalMontclair and the Montclair Center Business Improvement District. We are pleased to welcome our first sponsor, Montclair Magazine. This local glossy mag has been at the forefront supporting the buy local movement in Essex County, New Jersey. We are grateful for the magazine's generous support.

INDEPENDENT RETAIL WEEK ANNOUNCED

Montclair will host Independent Retail Week from October 2nd - 9th. Save the dates for a week-long celebration of all things "indie Montclair." Stay tuned for a full schedule of town-wide events to kick off the Fall shopping season and promote the growing shop local initiative.