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Bradford publishing company | Tuesday, November 23, 2021
Shop local to support merchants — and save on gas BY JOELLEN WANKEL Holiday shopping is upon us, and gas prices are high. There are a number of reasons why sticking close to home and shopping local is the smart move. Support your neighbors and receive support inkind. That app or website doesn’t provide personal, face-to-face advice on what color to choose, how long the item may last or what alternative might be a better fit for the person on your list. No one likes to see empty storefronts, and making sure businesses stay open within our community means understanding where those dollars go. “When people shop local, that money stays here. Specifically, $68 of every $100 stays in the community when shopping at a local business,” said Main/Elm Street Coordinator Sarah Matzner. “With supply chain shortages and shipping delays expected this holiday season, it’s extremely beneficial for customers to go into local businesses and do their shopping. In a small community like ours, oftentimes merchants know the person you’re shopping for and they can provide a personalized recommendation. Another benefit is this way, the product is in your hands that very day.” Shopping local means leaving the house, strolling along a decorated Main Street and finding the right gift. You remember this, and the experience guarantees you don’t accidentally buy something twice. Plus, shopping is a chance to get together with a friend or loved one and catch up, while you are available to give an opinion on a potential gift for the holidays. This is a great bonus to a fun day or night’s activity.
“When you support Small Business Season and shop local, you are supporting your neighbors and they are more likely, in turn, to keep the money you spent with them local as well,” Bradford Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Heidi Scrivo Passmore said. If you tend to wait until the last minute, shopping local is a smart move. You get the item off the shelf yourself, so there’s no stressing that the mail won’t arrive on time. Also, it is a good idea to remember that shopping local is going to mean success this year, while the backups at the ports on the West Coast and the staffing shortages plaguing businesses across the US may result in disappointment. Another option for the person on your list who is hard to shop for is a Chamber Gift Certificate, which can be used at local businesses and gives that person a chance to find something special for themselves. “The Chamber is proud of our community who support Shop Local Season via our Chamber Gift Certificates. We sell approximately $45,000 in gift certificates during the holiday season and all of that money stays local. Chamber Gift Certificates can only be used at member businesses,” Passmore said. Window shopping can mean inspiration for that person you aren’t sure what they want or need. Meanwhile, you never know what kind of opportunity you can stumble on while shopping local. Perhaps a career change is on the horizon, and a business you’d love to work for can offer you that option. The Main Street Program is registered as a Neighborhood Champion for Small Business Saturday, which is Nov. 27.
Small Business Saturday was created by American Express as a way to highlight local businesses, as opposed to the big box stores that take center stage for Black Friday.
Shopping local for Christmas helps out the buyer, seller and the community. Last year, some folks took advantage of holiday sales to shop at Bradford Chocolate Factory. FILE PHOTO
H ometown H olidays | NOVEMBER 2021
