Shop local this holiday season
This Christmas season consumers must remember to put their shopping dollars to good use reinvesting in their community and look to independent and community- based businesses for their holiday needs rather than through online retailers.
The 2022 Christmas shopping season is in full swing. According the National Retail Federation, Americans will spend between $942-$960 billion during the holiday season, with sales predicted to jump somewhere between 6% and 8% once all is said and done compared to 2021. This breaks down to $1,455 in spending this year per household, according to Deloitte’s 2022 Holiday Retail Survey.
As part of an ongoing trend in recent years, the number of shoppers heading to traditional brick and mortar stores is continuing to climb. According to Groupon, this year 34% of consumers are planning to purchase in-person at stores, up from 29% last year. While 54% of consumers plan to make online purchases this holiday season, that number has dropped from 61% planning online purchases in 2020.
While this trend is a move in a positive direction, it is important for holiday shoppers to support the businesses that help keep their communities strong.
When you are buying items, remember the businesses whose names are on the back of your children’s sports jerseys or at ballfields, gyms and arenas showing their ongoing support of local programs. Remember the names of those who have given to community projects or who have helped bring events and fun things to do to the area. In doing so, think about how much these businesses give back to the local community, not only in donations, but through wages of employees and tax dollars to local municipalities.
Think also of huge online retailers. Where are they when the community comes together for a benefit in support of someone in need? Where are they when a sports team needs a new scoreboard or to help keep youth programs affordable for families? They are too busy counting the billions siphoned out of local communities with little shown in return.
It would be hypocritical to suggest that people do no online commerce this holiday season. There are some goods and services which simply are not available at local stores. However, it is important to check with local stores first before assuming it will be more readily available or cheaper online.
It is also important to not discount the value of customer service and product knowledge. Rather than relying on questionable ratings from anonymous sources, the local store workers and owners know they will see you in the community and won’t simply make the quick sale, but make sure that you are satisfied with your purchase and be able to answer your questions. This service component is especially important if you are looking to purchase tools, firearms or any other specialized item. Knowledgable sales staff and customer service, both before and after the sale, can be the difference between a Christmas morning to remember and one you would like to forget.
As you set your budgets and make your shopping plans this Christmas season, put local brick and mortar businesses at the top of your list of places to shop.
