Are you looking for something fun to do with family or friends in Milwaukee this summer? I’ve looked around to find you local entertainment small businesses that are open and ready to host your staycation. Save Milwaukee Escape Rooms has been back running its McSnooty’s Gallery of Fine Art Escape Room since June. They use UV lights to sanitize the room between groups, and during the closure last spring replaced some of the clues that are often handled and hard to disinfect with new ones that are easy to clean. “In the past, McSnooty’s was geared for corporate events and sports teams. But we’v ..read more

Join Local First Milwaukee for our 3rd Annual When Women Lead Event A rising tide lifts all boats and the Local First Milwaukee’s When Women Lead event provides the opportunity to engage, support and strengthen our local, women owned businesses. This event brings together women that own a full time business, have a side hustle, are dreaming of starting a business and/or love supporting women owned businesses in an intimate and real way.  No pretending we have it all together. Instead, we value the transparency, vulnerability and celebrate the growing impact we can have #WhenWomenLeadMKE ..read more

Local First Milwaukee Introduces: First Tuesdays -Educate & Elevate Local First is committed to supporting the development of our local businesses by providing access to local business experts and resources. In this new series, we will be gathering the 1st Tuesday of the month to network, connect and learn valuable, meaningful skills and tools for your business. We are kicking of 2020 on Tuesday, January 7th with “A Fresh Perspective” featuring Elmer Moore, Executive Director of Scale Up Milwaukee.   Elmer Moore Jr. is the executive director of Scale Up Milwaukee, an ecosystem project u ..read more

Why Everyone Should Have a Financial Advisor by Robert V. Du Charme, CPA/PFS   Do you ever wonder if you are on the right financial path? But you think you do not have enough money to have a Financial Advisor? This is where we can help. Many firms require high minimums that keep you from getting the help you deserve but at Du Charme Financial Group, a branch of Global View Capital Advisors, we help everyone – no matter where you are in life.   We know that in order to achieve your financial goals and dreams you need to start now, no matter where you are at financially. Need help getting out ..read more

Photo Credit: Autumn Silva Photography   From the perspective of an in-the-trenches entrepreneur, Local First Milwaukee is one of the few organizations that truly represents a small Milwaukee business looking to be profitable and community oriented.   Photo Credit: Elizabeth Haase Photography   Starting a business can be overwhelming to say the least. A few weeks ago, I learned the Small Business Administration defines as a “small business” any company generating up to $25 million in annual revenue. Needless to say, the interests of my own small wedding and event floral design firm, Floral Alc ..read more

The Rise of  Video By 2019, video traffic will account for 80% of all consumer Internet traffic. It makes sense though, if you take a look at the content that you find yourself interacting with. Have you watched a YouTube video lately? Nearly 5 billion videos are watched on YouTube every single day. Have you checked out your Facebook News Feed in the past day or so? It won’t take you long to find a video on there. Facebook generates 8 billion video views on average per day. Even with the demand for video so glaring, you still have to figure out where to start. What types of videos will resonat ..read more

The holiday season may have ended but, there are a lot of ways to start the new year with local fun. To help pass the frigid winter days, get out of the house and have some local fun that is every bit as festive as last month.   There are many great opportunities to take part in local experiences to continue to support local and have a happy, healthy new year!   Some suggestions: Take a Milwaukee Food & City Tour. There are many great options to choose from including: Bloody Mary Brunch Tour, Milwaukee Pizza Bus Tour, Tacos & Tequila, Craft Breweries and Cocktails Tour, Walkers Point ..read more

This year while making your list and checking it twice we want to encourage you to think local! Local First is thrilled to bring you the 2017 holiday gift guide, featuring gift items and experiences from some favorite local businesses. Click the links below for additional details.   For those on the “nice” list I have a basket of a few of my favorite things including: A beautiful sugar skull mug handcrafted at Jean’s Clay Studio along with some Lemon Spearmint Energy tea from Urbal Tea and hot cocoa from Tabal Chocolate to warm you up. To create a cozy atmosphere, a Victorian Christmas candle ..read more

Why You Should Shop Small Every Day   We extend our Thanks to all who came out and supported our small businesses at the 2017 Buy Local Gift Fair.   Thanks to all our sponsors: Indulgence Chocolatiers, James Steeno Gallery, Milwaukee Kayak Company, Stephanie Bartz Photography, Stepping Stone Farms, Float Milwaukee and Bowls Restaurant. Also, Barcelona-Artful Living, City Tins, Indigo Blu Mercantile and Sparrow Collective.   A full list of participating businesses and vendors is HERE. If you were not able to visit them at the 2017 Buy Local Gift Fair, click their web links to support any of the ..read more