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An Editorial Opinion of The Demopolis Times

The holiday season is coming up very soon. Thanksgiving is next Thursday and Christmas is only six weeks away, which means that many people are soon going to begin shopping for the holidays and finding those perfect gifts.

While it is tempting to go out of town to a bigger city with a mall or more outlet stores, consider shopping local this holiday season. Buying from local shops is a great way to give back to your community and keeps the local economy healthy.

When shopping locally, you may not be able to pick up everything on your list in one go, but there are many benefits that outweigh that one disadvantage. One benefit is personalized customer care, because it is likely that employees and store owners already know you on a personal level which helps make for a better shopping experience. Small businesses need the support of local customers, so local businesses are likely to treat you as family when you walk through the door.

Another benefit of shopping locally is that it helps create more jobs. When community members buy from locally owned businesses, more money remains in the area and helps to create more jobs. Local owners are also likely to hire people who represent the area’s demographics and help underserved populations.

Local businesses also tend off unique items and services that may not be as easily available elsewhere. For example, a local boutique may offer brands or designs not commonly seen at big department stores. The items might also better reflect what the community wants or needs, rather than simply offering what is a popular trend.

So, if you are planning to go Black Friday shopping on Nov. 24, consider dropping in at a local business. It is not a bad thing to go out of town to find the items that you want or need, but it is important not to neglect the home-grown businesses that are the backbone of any community.