We take you to the Frances Vintage Boutique in Phoenix, voted the best boutique since 2006. The boutique features handmade trinkets and other items.
TED SIMONS: PHOENIX IS A GREAT PLACE TO SHOP LOCALLY. THAT'S ACCORDING TO YELP, THE CONSUMER-DRIVEN REVIEW-BASED SITE, WHICH RANKS PHOENIX IN THE TOP 15 CITIES FOR SHOPPING LOCAL. ECONOMIC EXPERTS SAY THAT WHEN YOU SHOP LOCALLY, 4-TIMES AS MUCH OF YOUR PURCHASE STAYS IN YOUR COMMUNITY AS OPPOSED TO WHEN YOU SHOP AT BIG BOX STORES.
PRODUCER SHANA FISCHER CHECKED OUT FRANCES, A NEIGHBORHOOD STORE THAT SHOWCASES ARIZONA PRODUCTS.
REPORTER: GEORGE ANNE IS A CURATOR OF CRAFTS.
SOUNDBITE: FRANCIS IS A MIX OF THE THINGS I LOVE.I LOVE FEATURING LOCAL ARTISTS. I FEEL THE CUSTOMER CONNECTS WITH THAT. THEY'LL COME IN AND ASK SPECIFICALLY FOR WHAT IS MADE LOCALLY.
REPORTER: SAMANTHA AND ANDREW ARE THE OWNERS OF STANDARD WAX, A CANDLE COMPANY BASED IN PHOENIX.
SOUNDBITE: WE MAKE CANDLES MEANT TO BE RE-PURPOSED AFTER THE CANDLE IS GONE. YOU CAN USE THEM AS PLANTER, CANDLE HOLDERS, SPARE CHANGE COLLECTORS, WHATEVER YOU WANT TO DO WITH THEM AFTER THE CANDLE BURNS DOWN.
REPORTER: FRANCIS WAS ONE OF THE FIRST STORES THAT BOUGHT THE CANDLES WHOLESALE AND SEVERAL YEARS LATER, IT'S STILL A BEST SELLER.
SOUNDBITE: MOST PEOPLE COMING TO FRANCIS ARE LOOKING FOR A GIFT ITEM, SOMETHING UNIQUE.
SOUNDBITE: WE BRING IN NEW MERCHANDISER EVERY WEEK.
REPORTER: IT'S THE LOCALLY MADE STORES THAT HOLD A PLACE IN GEORGE ANNE'S HEART.
SHE HAS A TABLE FOR ITEMS CRAFTED IN ARIZONA.
SOUNDBITE: I LOVE ARIZONA ITEMS.A LOT OF LOCAL PEOPLE ARE DOING LOCAL GRAPHICS, AND HAND-MADE WOODEN ITEMS.
REPORTER: SAMANTHA SAYS GEORGE ANNE'S SUPPORT IS VITAL ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE LOOK FOR SUPPORT.
SOUNDBITE:
WE TELL THE STORY OF THE FIRST CANDLE WE EVER MADE.IT LITERALLY SMELLED LIKE CAT URINE. IT'S NOT LIKE WE WOKE UP ONE DAY AND SAID, WE ARE GOING TO MAKE A CANDLE AND IT'S AMAZING.
REPORTER: GEORGE ANNE CAME UP WITH THE IDEA FOR A NEIGHBORHOOD STORE IN 2006.
SOUNDBITE: I REALLY FELT THERE WAS A NEED FOR SHOPPING IN CENTRAL PHOENIX. I LOVED CENTRAL PHOENIX, BUT YOU HAD TO GO TO BILTMORE OR SCOTTSDALE FOR SHOPPING. I REALLY WANTED TO OPEN IT IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
REPORTER: THE NEIGHBORHOOD CAME THROUGH IN A BIG WAY WHEN GEORGE ANNE NEEDED THEM MOST, SHE SAYS.
SOUNDBITE: IN 2008 THE ECONOMY TOOK A DIP AND THE CUSTOMERS WERE VITAL TO STOPPING IN AND GETTING ALL OF THEIR GIFTS HERE. THEY WERE ASKING, ARE YOU DOING OKAY? THEY MADE A POINT TO START SHOPPING LOCAL.
REPORTER: GEORGE ANNE SAYS WHEN YOU BUY LOCAL, YOU ARE DOING MORE THAN SUPPORTING A BUSINESS. YOU ARE BUILDING UP A COMMUNITY.
SOUNDBITE: SO MUCH OF THE MONEY THEY SPEND IN THE LOCAL STORE STAYS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY. THEY ARE GIVING JOBS TO LOCAL PEOPLE. TO KEEP A COMMUNITY GOING, WE NEED TO HAVE THE STORES. WE NEED TO HAVE THE RESTAURANTS, EVERYBODY WORKING TOGETHER, AND THE LOCAL SYNERGY REALLY HELP.
TED SIMONS: FRANCIS IS LOCATED ON THE CORNER OF 1ST AVENUE AND MCDOWELL. THURSDAY ON "ARIZONA HORIZON." STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION DIANE DOUGLAS JOINS US TO TALK ABOUT "AZ KIDS CAN'T WAIT," HER PLAN TO IMPROVE THE STATE'S SCHOOLS.
TED SIMONS: DIANE DOUGLAS ON THE NEXT ARIZONA HORIZON. THAT'S IT FOR NOW. I'M TED SIMONS. THANKS SO MUCH FOR JOINING US. YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.
