I Shop NY depicts economic, social muscle of Mid-Hudson Valley stores during tour

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Shop local. It matters.

ALBANY, NY (07/30/2013)(readMedia)-- I Shop NY will be on the road again highlighting the economic, social and cultural importance of local stores in the Mid-Hudson Valley later this week. An initiative of the Retail Council of New York State, I Shop NY encourages shoppers to support community stores before turning to out-of-state Internet-only merchants. I Shop NY's "Local Gem Tour" will visit four local favorite retailers identified by loyal shoppers during a recent statewide contest. They will share photos and video of their tour at Facebook.com/IShopNY and Twitter.com/I_Shop_NY.

Members of the media are welcome to see the I Shop NY team and store representatives in action:

Thursday, August 1

11:30 a.m. – Dedrick's Pharmacy & Gifts, New Paltz (dedrickspharmacyandgifts.com)

1:30 p.m. – Sierra Lily, Poughkeepsie (Sierra Lily's Facebook page)

3:30 p.m. – HiHo Home Market, Gardiner (hihohome.com)

5:00 p.m. – Surviving Sisters' Boutique, Hyde Park (Surviving Sisters' Facebook page)

Surviving Sisters' Boutique was voted third by New York shoppers in I Shop NY's Favorite Local Store contest held in June, while Sierra Lily garnered the fifth spot, followed by HiHo Home Market at sixth and Dedrick's Gifts, voted the tenth favorite local store in New York state. The Local Gem Tour started in Western New York with visits to other favorite stores the week of July 10.

"I Shop NY highlights retail bright spots in the Mid-Hudson Valley to local shoppers who may be discovering these gems for the first time. In the hustle and bustle of life, we sometimes forget local businesses sell unique merchandise, and offer fantastic service and competitive prices right in our own back yards," said James Sherin, president and chief executive officer of the Retail Council of New York State, the largest full-service retail trade association in New York. "We want to tell the story of these merchants and how they contribute to the vitality of the communities they call home."

About I Shop NY: Local retailers employ our neighbors, support our tax base and add vitality and charm to our communities and shopping districts. I Shop NY helps these stores face growing competition from out-of-state Internet-only merchants and encourages shoppers to patronize local stores first.

Shoppers can find special promotions from merchants across the state on ishopNY.com. The Council markets these offers using social media and other new and traditional marketing tools to assist participating stores. I Shop NY is a free member service of the Retail Council of New York State. Merchants who aren't members of the Retail Council can use I Shop NY for free with a one-year trial offer. Learn more at retailcouncilnys.com/ishop-ny.

Learn more about I Shop NY at ishopNY.com and at Facebook.com/IShopNY.

About the Retail Council of New York State:

The "Voice of Retailing" in New York state, the Retail Council offers money-saving group benefit programs and government relations advocacy to thousands of retailers and other service providers. Learn more by visiting retailcouncilnys.com or Facebook.com/RetailCouncilNYS.