Shop Small this Holiday Season
December 10, 2024
As we move into the holiday shopping season, the buzz of Black Friday deals and Cyber Monday steals seems to start earlier each year. Retailers begin marketing Christmas shopping long before the Thanksgiving turkey has been carved, and in the process, the season of gratitude is often overshadowed by the rush for doorbuster sales and online discounts.
Black Friday, the traditional kickoff to holiday shopping, sees crowds swarming big-box stores like Walmart, Target, and Best Buy for steep discounts on everything from flat-screen TVs to kitchen gadgets. Meanwhile, Cyber Monday—the digital answer to Black Friday—beckons shoppers with deals aimed at diverting spending from brick-and-mortar stores to online retailers.
While I appreciate a good deal as much as anyone, I’d like to offer a different perspective this holiday season: what would be the benefit if we all made a conscious effort to shop local this holiday season? There are plenty of reasons to do so, and they all lead to a stronger, more vibrant Greenwood.
- First, shopping local has an outsized impact on our community’s local economy. When you buy from a locally owned business, more of your money stays in Greenwood. Local businesses reinvest in the community by paying employees, sourcing goods and services locally, and supporting public services through taxes. That single dollar spent at a local shop multiplies its impact as it circulates, helping to create jobs, fund community initiatives, and drive economic growth right here at home.
- Second, local businesses offer a level of service you simply can’t find at a national chain or an online retailer. These business owners are our neighbors—people who care about the community and their customers. They go the extra mile to help you find the perfect gift, share their expert knowledge, and often offer personalized touches like gift wrapping. Shopping local isn’t just a transaction; it’s an experience that makes you feel valued as a customer.
- Third, shopping local means discovering unique, one-of-a-kind treasures. Greenwood is filled with shops that carry handmade goods, local art, and specialty items you won’t find anywhere else. A gift from a local store not only feels more meaningful but also shows thoughtfulness and care.
But the impact of shopping local goes far beyond what’s under the tree. When you choose to support local businesses, you’re investing in Greenwood’s future. Local businesses are more likely to give back to the community—sponsoring events, supporting local charities, and contributing to projects that enhance our quality of life. They’re part of the fabric of Greenwood, and their success strengthens our entire community.
To celebrate the importance of shopping local, Main Street America and American Express created Small Business Saturday, an event that encourages holiday shopping at local businesses on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. This tradition, now in its 14th year, is the perfect reminder to explore Greenwood’s local shops and support our hometown businesses during one of the busiest shopping weekends of the year.
Here’s a great example of why shopping local matters: imagine you spend a dollar at a local retailer in downtown Greenwood. That dollar doesn’t stop with the shopkeeper—it ripples through the community. The business owner uses it to pay employees, who then spend their earnings at other local establishments, like restaurants, grocery stores, and service providers. The retailer also uses part of that dollar to purchase supplies and services from other local businesses and to pay rent and utilities, keeping even more of that dollar in Greenwood.
This cycle creates a multiplier effect, strengthening Greenwood’s economy, supporting jobs, and fostering new opportunities. Every purchase made locally contributes to the community’s economic vitality.
By contrast, when you spend a dollar at a national chain, most of that money quickly leaves the community. Profits go to corporate headquarters in another city or state, and very little is reinvested in Greenwood. Over time, this outflow of dollars weakens the local economy and makes it harder to sustain a thriving community.
So, before you click “add to cart” online or rush to a big-box retailer, pause and consider the impact of shopping local. Greenwood has a variety of unique shops that offer incredible finds, exceptional service, and the chance to make a real difference.
This holiday season, let’s put our community first. By shopping local, we’re not just giving gifts—we’re giving back to Greenwood, ensuring that it continues to flourish for generations to come.
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Thomas Gregory is a certified city planner and executive director of the Greenwood-Leflore-Carroll Economic Development Foundation.