You've heard of the phrase "Buy Local." But maybe you have no idea what that actually means. Whether you have a pretty good idea of what buying local is, or you have little to no idea as to what buying local means, here are 4 great articles to help you understand the true meaning and benefits of buying local!

1. Time Magazine Buying Local: How it Boosts the Economy

1. http://content.time.com/time/business/article/0,8599,1903632,00.html

2. Sustainable Connections: Why Buy Locally owned?

• https://sustainableconnections.org/thinklocal/why

3. ILSR: Top 10 Reasons to Shop Locally

• http://ilsr.org/why-support-locally-owned-businesses/

4. Thrive: 9 Good Reasons to Shop at Locally Owned Businesses

• http://www.buylocalrogue.org/why-buy-local/reasons-to-shop-locally.html

Buying Local In Ventura County

Where Can I Buy Local?

Below is a list of 66 places you can Buy Local here in Ventura County! On the right column is the chain store. And on the left is the Local shopping alternative. Happy shopping!

Local                                                                                 Chain

1.       Melly’s Gift & Party(Oxnard) 2.       Party Supply Depot (Oxnard) 3.       Ventura Party Rentals (Ventura)	Party City
4.       Henson's (Camarillo) 5.       Salzers Record (Ventura)	Guitar Center Amoeba
6.       Inside Track (Ventura) 7.       Tri Running (Camarillo)	Runner's World
8.       Anacapa Surf N Sport(Oxnard) 9.       Oxnard Skate Shop (Oxnard) 10.   Paddle Surf Outlet(Camarillo) 11.    WetSand Surf Shop (Ventura) 12.   Ventura Surf Shop (Ventura) 13.   Homegrown Surf Shop (Ventura) 14.   Robert's Surfboards (Ventura) 15.   Beach Break Surf Shop (Ventura)	Zumiez Roxy
16.   Cool Energy Drinks and Smoothies(Oxnard) 17.    Big-Straw Boba(Oxnard) 18.   Jungle Juice(Oxnard) 19.   Jacaranda’s Juice Bar(Oxnard) 20.   La Huerta Juice Bar(Oxnard) 21.   Rebecca’s Juice Bar(Oxnard) 22.   La Palapa Juice Bar(Oxnard) 23.   All Shook Up(Oxnard) 24.   The Good Life (Ventura) 25.   Cappuccino Club & Juice Bar (Camarillo) 26.   Boba-Licious Smoothies & More (Camarillo) 27.   Goodtimes Nutrition (Ventura)	Jamba Juice Juice It Up Robek's
28.   Oucerne Italian Restaurant(Camarillo) 29.   Pizza 3.14 (Camarillo) 30.   Tony's NY  Style Pizza(Camarillo) 31.   Double Play Pizza (Camarillo) 32.   Pizzeria Bianco Rosso (Camarillo)	Olive Garden Pizza Hut
33.   Encore Decor Consignment and Design (Newbury Park)	Home Depot
34.   Great Harvest of Thousand Oaks (Newbury Park) 35.   Green Forest Cafe (Ventura)	Panera Beard
36.   Creative Castle (Newbury Park)	Hobby Lobby Michaels
37.   Caffe Aroma (Newbury Park) 38.   Element Coffee(Camarillo) 39.   Honey Cup Coffee Bar (Oxnard) 40.   BeanoVino(Newbury Park) 41.   Conejo Coffee(Newbury Park) 42.   Element Coffee (Camarillo) 43.   Simone's Coffee (Ventura) 44.   Kay's Coffee Shop (Ventura) 45.   Tatiana's Coffee and Tea (Ventura) 46.   Sandbox Coffeehouse (Ventura) 47.   Mia's Place Coffee Shop (Ventura)	Starbucks Coffee Bean
48.   The Alamo (Newbury Park) 49.   Olas Mexican Grill (Camarillo) 50.   El Rey Catina (Camarillo)	El Torito On the Border
51.   HC Seafood (Oxnard) 52.   The Fisherman's House (Oxnard) 53.   Cabo Seafood Grill & Cantina (Oxnard) 54.   Hook, Line, & Silver (Oxnard) 55.   Moqueca Brazillian Cusine (Oxnard) 56.   Whale's Tail Restaurant (Oxnard) 57.   Brophy Bros (Ventura) 58.   Lure Fish House (Ventura) 59.   Andria's Seafood Restaurant & Market (Ventura) 60.   Beach House Fish (Ventura) 61.   Seaward Fish & Chips(Ventura) 62.   The Deck at Eric Ericson's (Ventura) 63.   Rhumbline Restaurant (Ventura) 64.   Aloha Steakhouse (Ventura) 65.   Chili Peppers (Camarillo) 66.   Pacific Fresh Seafood Grill (Thousand Oaks)	Red Lobster