What if there was a place online where you could shop locally – one website that featured a variety of products and services from local businesses, especially during the holiday shopping season?
As a busy mother of four with a full-time job, Michelle Wirth longed for something like this while stuck at home during the height of Covid and like everyone, having no choice but to do her shopping online. Like other women, busy with careers and families, she was looking for convenience.
Michelle searched the internet for a site like Amazon, but one that offered all local products and services. There wasn’t one. That’s when she decided she was going to build that website and feelgoodshoplocal.com was born.
“There are so many wonderful businesses in our region – the challenge is knowing they exist and being able to shop them on the go and from anywhere in a fun and convenient way. I took the best experiences I had shopping online and put them into Feel Good Shop Local,” Michelle said.
While Feel Good Shop Local is new, it’s growing, with more businesses steadily being added to the site. Michelle wants to expand and offer more flavor and variety, featuring businesses from Hampden, Hampshire, Franklin, and even Berkshire counties. “We’re adding new stores with unique products and we’re constantly refreshing the site,” she said. We’re encouraging people to shop local first. Not finding what you are looking for? Please recommend stores/products you’d like to see there.”
The site is focused on consumer lifestyle goods and services. Shoppers can find clothing,
jewelry, skin care, wellness services, food, local artisan products and more.
Michelle said she is focused on making Feel Good Shop Local as useful as possible to sellers and customers. For customers, it offers the ease of shopping locally when they can’t get to a brick-and-mortar location, and in the middle of holiday gift-giving season, the website offers a local gift guide with suggestions for everyone on your list – from family and friends to pets, co-workers and teachers.
Feel Good Shop Local goes a step further to make shopping easy for customers who can shop by occasion, by interest, and by price. For those who want to shop businesses that align with their values, there is a category for that, too.
Making the shopping experience even easier, Feel Good Shop Local’s editors offer a selection of their favorite picks from local businesses.
“We all know the importance of shopping locally, Michelle said, but I am not sure everyone knows the impact it has – the goods I’m purchasing are supporting my neighbor. Having a platform like this creates a sense of community. People want to know from whom they are buying.”
For businesses, Michelle says Feel Good Shop Local is a marketing and service platform, “Whether sellers already have a website or not, we provide them the opportunity to expand their reach by selling beyond their typical geography and allow folks to shop them even when their ‘doors’ are closed. I built this site as an always-on alternate revenue stream for them, and a curated platform to shop and discover local businesses for shoppers.”
www.feelgoodshoplocal.com
High Five Books
Imagine a cozy space where caretakers and their little people are invited to read, create, play, & linger together. Now place it in adorable downtown Florence, right off the bike path. High Five Books is the neighborhood go-to for new board & picture books, early- and middle-grade readers, YA books & graphic novels. They also sell art kits and other creative supplies. Visit feelgoodshoplocal.com/store/high-five-books to purchase any of the following gifts.
Hannon Made
Hannon Made is a woodworking company founded by craftsman Josh Hannon, a self-taught wood worker with over a decade of experience. Every piece from Hannon Made is individually crafted in his Greenfield, MA workshop. Quality and durability are just as important as the aesthetics of each piece created. Each board of wood is hand-selected from local lumber yards by Josh himself, then brought to his shop, milled, and worked to create the pieces. Although some pieces may have a twin, no two pieces are exactly the same. Visit feelgoodshoplocal.com/store/hannonmade to purchase any of the following gifts.
Feather & Bloom
Feather & Bloom is a locally-owned hometown florist, plant and gift shop in Suffield, CT, specializing in unique blooms, locally-sourced handcrafted goods, sustainable + eco-friendly products and lovely houseplants. Feather & Bloom prides themselves on being women in business, supporting local women, local makers and community events. They love to collaborate with other small businesses in the local Massachusetts and Connecticut area. Visit feelgoodshoplocal.com/store/feather-and-bloom to purchase any of the following gifts.