Grand Junction has one of the best local shopping scenes on the Western Slope, with an abundance of small and family-owned businesses making it easy to support the local community and stray away from corporate America.
From antiques to gemstones, Grand Junction stands apart with its unique variety of locally-owned stores that all cater to the needs of the diverse residents found in our local community. Shopping locally benefits not only small business owners, but is also is more environmentally sustainable and better for your needs!
Supporting local business owners by shopping locally helps them compete against large corporations such as Amazon, Walmart and more. To support them is just one small step in helping with the survival of all small businesses across America, which is important in the face of growing demand for online shopping at mass conglomerate stores and the economic hardships brought by the pandemic that are still felt today.
Environmentally, shopping at local stores does wonders in reducing your carbon footprint and doing your part in the fight against climate change. Many small businesses, especially those in Grand Junction, put an emphasis on using compostable or recyclable packaging and usually stay away from single-use plastic products.
Attemping to reduce their carbon footprint, most local businesses are more likely to source their products and ingredients locally, or at least sustainably. Another part of the reduction of your carbon footprint comes from the fact that, unlike major corporate stores such as Shein, products are not from thousands of miles away and do not have to be shipped all over the world to get to you.
Lastly, shopping locally is better for the consumer! When buying products from large corporate companies, the consumer is just another number, where quality may be overlooked in the product itself.
On the other hand, small businesses rely on the good reviews and ratings of the public, relying heavily on word of mouth. In turn, I believe they focus more on creating high-quality products because their customers are not just another number; they are faces, families, and people who contribute to the livelihood of something a business owner puts their blood, sweat and tears into.
There are so many small businesses in Grand Junction it’s hard to count, but to highlight a few, here are two places to find unique and useful products, all located within city limits!
First off, the New Way Refillery, located right off North Avenue on the South side of campus, is a reasonably-priced place where you can get refills on any product–from shampoo to laundry detergent–just by bringing in your own reusable container to fill.
If you are looking to find outdoor gear to buy or rent, Grand Junction has an abundance of businesses that cater to your needs. Seek Outside is a fantastic business that sells all your backpacking needs–from tent stoves to lightweight backpacks–located at 2331 Interstate Avenue right off the I-70.
These two shops are just the beginning of what you can find shopping locally, so explore Grand Junction’s local business scene. From clothes to local pottery, the possibilities are endless.
