OTBKB is proud to present another installment of Why Shop Local?

Judi Pheiffer is co-owner of Bob and
Judi’s Coolectibles, and Co-Chairperson for the 5th Avenue Business
Improvement District (BID). She will be participating in the Snowflake Celebration
during the first two Thursdays in December (12/4 and 12/11) by offering
a 10% discount on all vintage holiday ornaments, xmas cards, and unique
mah jongg menorahs. She will also have yummy snacks to keep your energy
up for late night shopping.

Q: When did you open for business and why did you choose Park Slope?

A: We opened our business 11
years ago this December when Fifth Avenue was still uncharted
territory. We had bought our home a few blocks away between Fourth
& Fifth Ave years before, and kept hoping that Fifth Avenue would
begin to come back. We had been selling at the PS 321 Flea Market and
had developed a following. We wanted to open a store and figured we
should invest in our own neighborhood, so we followed our dream. And,
as they say, the rest is history.

Coolectibles Factoid:
We have always considered ourselves a “recycling” business. We live in
such a disposable world. There’s something so nice about giving an old
object a second, third or greater life span. Bob and I hand pick each
item for our store, and we especially love finding the items people
write down on our store’s “Wish List.”

Q: Which of the Sustainable Business Network NYC’s “Top Ten Reasons” to shop locally resonate most with you & your business?

A: Reason # 7. Local business owners invest in community.
From the moment we opened our store we knew we that our store’s
survival was tied into making our community better.
We helped re-start a defunct Merchant Association which has now become
a BID. We worked with our Community Board and elected officials to
plant trees, clean up graffiti, and get historic street lights.
Merchants like us support our local schools PTA, community gardens,
non-profits and neighborhood dance and music companies. It is all about
being a part of a neighborhood we love.

Shop Local Factoid: Local
businesses are owned by people who live in this community, are less
likely to leave, and are more invested in the community’s future.

"Why Shop Local?”
is a communication initiative of the Buy in Brooklyn eam. To learn
more about Park Slope’s Buy in Brooklyn campaign, visit their website at http://www.buyinbrooklyn.com/— the site, with its ever-growing list of participants (and discounts!), will launch this weekend and be updated regularly.

Interview conducted by Rebeccah Welch