OKEMOS - The Michigan Retailers Association President and CEO, James P. Hallan recently made a trip to Playmakers in Okemos to unveil Michigan's newest mascot, Buy-Near-By-Guy.

The blue, 8-foot-tall, Michigan shaped, shopping bag mascot is supposed to serve as a reminder to Michigan residents of the great shopping benefits available in Michigan and the benefits that come of shopping and supporting nearby retailers.

“Rather than just click on the internet, think about if you buy something from a Michigan retailer that you're helping hire employees, you're reinvesting in the schools in the state and that also provides charitable contributions in the community," Hallan said.

A study by East Lansing-based Anderson Economic Group found that Michigan in 2015 would gain an about 75 thousand additional jobs and $9 billion in additional economic activity if Michigan consumers bought from retailers in Michigan rather than from "remote" sellers.