If we haven’t convinced you to make your gifts this holiday season, then we want to suggest visiting local stores first. It is often difficult for small businesses to compete with big box stores in terms of price. However, we’ve found the store environment and the service at small local shops are top-notch. They may not be open at midnight on Friday (or 8pm on Thanksgiving, like some stores), but the experience is always worth the wait. So, cut back on the driving, skip out on the hours spent in line outside in the cold, and support your local community shops. Our favorites include a local coffee shops (coffee beans for everyone!) and a fantastic little used bookstore.
So skip the Black Friday rush, check out your local stores on Saturday, and see what you are missing! For more information about the economic impact of shopping local, check out Shift Your Shopping. If you have a few minutes, we definitely suggest reading some of the stats. They are pretty staggering.
Go visit your local stores!