No one wants to fight the crowds in malls and large department stores this time of year. It brings bouts of stress and anxiety and leaves one feeling depressed about holiday shopping in general.
That’s why things like online shopping and Amazon have become such wildly used alternatives to pushing your way through elbow-to-elbow people who generally have a chip on their shoulder and are less than pleasant to be around.
However, now is the time we should be focusing our attention toward supporting our own little small businesses right here in our communities. These businesses are often the legs our cities and towns stand on and they need our support to keep moving forward.
It’s no surprise to anyone the pandemic has really taken its toll on our small business neighbors. It’s sad to see how many of them have slipped through the cracks and disappeared without warning. What’s really sad is most of these small businesses were selling quality products you can’t get anywhere else.
While malls are filled with crowds of people pushing and shoving their way past you to get the best deals, if you shop at a local store, you are generally met with a friendly, inviting atmosphere where the owners and employees are thrilled to see you. They understand the value of having you as a customer and appreciate the time you take to shop their stores. The same cannot necessarily be said about what you purchase on Amazon; it’s hard to really know who your money is actually going to and what you are supporting.
Shopping at your local family-owned stores might not guarantee you small crowds and cheaper prices, but if you’ve spent time in one of these shops you will notice a difference. Even if there are crowds of people, the atmosphere is different. That’s because everyone there knows they are doing more than checking off an item on their shopping lists, they are proud to be purchasing unique items for their family and friends while also giving back to their community.
It might be easier to sit behind a computer and push, “add to cart.” And truthfully, there are other benefits to doing that because we do need to support our economy as a whole. But starting with our own towns first ensures we are supporting families who live in our very own neighborhoods.
The pandemic has taken so much away from all of us, it’s our job to start rebuilding what has been lost. And there’s no reason that can’t start with supporting our local small businesses.
