Is Online Shopping the Enemy of Local Business?

The local movement may be just gathering steam across the country, but it's nothing new on Martha's Vineyard. For generations, Vineyarders have recognized the benefits and pleasure of shopping locally: Main Street flourishes, farms prosper, and communities grow stronger. 

But what about when we have to go off-Island for something? In the old days, Islanders shopped by catalog or traveled to the mainland a few times a year. Many still do. In the age of the Internet, however, more and more people choose to make those irregular purchases online. That's where Tisbury Turkey comes in. 

When you shop at major retailers like Amazon through TisburyTurkey.com, the retailer pays us a commission. Instead of keeping it, we pass those profits back to the Island in the form of contributions to its non-profit organizations. That way, even your online shopping can support the local community, and it doesn't cost you an extra dime.

We're hoping to start our own little movement, one that harnesses the power of the Internet for the local good. Sure, we might not deliver as much as some other Vineyard fundraisers this year, but we could change the relationship between the Internet and local communities. And that's fine by us.

Through Tisbury Turkey, anyone who loves Martha's Vineyard can support its local causes, anywhere, anytime. Plus, we're placing promotions from Island stores side by side with the online deals, making us a one-stop shopping news source for everything Vineyard. We're welcoming local businesses on board for free, so whether you're a business owner, resident, tourist, or admirer, it pays to check us out.

At Tisbury Turkey, our motto is "Doing the Vineyard Good." But we can't do it without you. Check out our site, Like our Facebook page, and let us know what you think.