How to approach local business??? [View all]

Not sure if this belongs here or in the DU Marketplace, but I'm going to try here first.

My local independent coffee shop generally does a pretty good job of supporting local artists. There is almost always a wall of paintings or photography or other two-dimensional art on exhibit, and s few local clay artists have been allowed to display mugs and cups.

But this past holiday season, the themed items displayed for sale (ornaments, decorations, etc.) were virtually all made in China, including a half dozen or so incredibly cheap and unimaginative "Christmas" stockings. Although the tags were well hidden, I finally found one. When I showed the "made in china" label to a fellow patron, she was likewise dismayed.

Unfortunately, the cheap imported stockings were sold at something just under $10, and I'm pretty sure locally crafted ones could not be priced so low. More than likely, however, these would be much higher quality. The trick is, how to persuade the coffee shop's owner to eschew the cheap, sleazy, imported crap and instead promote local products and local artisans?

I'm not a "hustler," so I'm not good at this. Anyone have any ideas to share?


TG