Get your presents locally. An initiative is being launched for supporting inner city businesses.

Meet the inner city businesspeople operating near you – owners of shops, service points and establishments – and buy presents for your family and friends from them. The action #PrezentujSięLokalnie (Get your presents locally).

#PrezentujSięLokalnie is a grassroots initiative of a group of Szczecin's residents who care for the local businesses. Local companies shape the image of the inner city with their daily work, bearing various, including financial, risks. This year they need our support more than ever!

How does it work?

First of all, the goal is to encourage Szczecin's residents to do their Christmas shopping locally, in the inner city. In the last few weeks a group of volunteering residents wandered around this part of the city to invite the owners of business to participate in the #PrezentujSięLokalnie action.

"We talked to them, they told us their stories, some of which were really fascinating, how they got here and what they offer. All was documented in photo shoots, which helped illustrate what we were talking about," said Karolina Gołębiowska, co-initiator of the initiative.

Currently there are more than 80 businesses on the list, and more are joining! Only a small percentage of them have online businesses; most of them run stationary retail or service points in the inner city.

"For me it was fantastic to meet so many great people, which is not easy during the pandemic, when it is hard to make any contacts, especially with new people. This action has really brought a lot of emotions – for many of us it was moving, and also rewarding; people often shared their stories with us.  Some are uplifting, as they are stories of success, but it is also a pity that people with such great passion, knowledge and dedication often find it hard to make ends meet. Thus, although I'm not from Szczecin, my Christmas presents (and we're thinking about other occasions too) will be 100% from Szczecin. And each of the items now immediately brings these people to mind," added Julia Brodowska, one of the volunteers who visited inner city businesses.

The gathered information and photographs will be made into business cards and published on the action's website (www.prezentujsie.szczecin.pl), which will make it easy for potential buyers to join.

Descriptions of companies participating in the action will also be available in the Facebook event, and printed maps will be available for those who prefer paper over computer or phone screens. It is also worth observing the windows of inner-city shops and establishments to find out whether a given business has joined the #PrezentujSięLokalnie action.

"On 5 December we are launching intensive promotion, and we invite people to buy their Christmas presents from their neighbours. With the added value of your support for the local community, the presents will be even more precious," said Karolina Gołębiowska.

Is it still possible for companies to join? Yes!

Write an email to the organisers: prezentujsie@oswajaniesztuki.plor call 695 746 832.

The action is address to businesses operating in the Centrum, Turzyn and Śródmieście-Zachód estates. The initiators of the action are Karolina Gołębiowska and Natalia Laskowska. #PrezentujSięLokalnie action's team (selection of companies, descriptions, photographs): Karolina Gołębiowska, Natalia Laskowska, Grażyna Olszewska, Kamil Becker, Julia Brodowska.

The action is carried out under the project "The ŚRODEK Inner City Neighbourhood Centre. A place for the activity and support of the local communities of the revitalised areas", coordinated by the OSWAJANIE SZTUKI Association and co-financed by Szczecin in connection with the project "The revitalisation of the public spaces and buildings of the inner city section of Wojska Polskiego Avenue in Szczecin".

Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/844323812982499/

The action's website: https://www.prezentujsie.szczecin.pl/