This holiday season, the question isn't just "what to buy," but rather "why choose local?". Here are 5 reasons why shopping locally this holiday season is the way to go.

Community Connection: Holiday shopping is a great opportunity to get out and about! Visit shops you’ve never stepped foot in before; you just might find your new favorite spot.

Support Local Economy: Opting for local businesses is more than just a purchase; it's an investment into your community. When you shop locally, your hard earned money goes directly back into the betterment of your community.

Unique Gifts: Move over box stores! Small-batch, hand-crafted, home-made, locally-sourced are IN this year. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but everybody and their mother is sick of getting the same old generic gifts each holiday season. Wow your friends and family with unique gifts they will never find anywhere else.

Environmental Impact: You know what else is “in” right now? Sustainability. When you choose to shop locally, you are choosing the more eco-friendly option. Cutting out long distance shipping and packaging materials greatly reduces your carbon footprint.

Make a Difference (For Small Business Owners): Large corporations will not suffer if they miss out on your business this holiday season. However, supporting local can make all the difference in the world to a small business owner. You can be the difference between whether they are able to keep their doors open another year, or not. You can brighten their day and even make their whole year.

This holiday season, we encourage you to shop in a way that truly matters. When we support local businesses, we are strengthening the foundation (and economy) of our community. We are allowing our local area to be enriched by unique and one-of-a-kind offerings that large corporations will never be able to provide. Happy holidays, SUPPORT LOCAL!