Small businesses remind you to shop local this holiday season

It’s that time of year again – time to pick out the perfect gifts for friends and family – that important holiday tradition that can create lasting memories for many.
This time of year is important for businesses, as well. Their future depends on how robust their sales are during this season.
That is why it is imperative that Lelanders do their best to shop locally.
Many people, when tasked with getting their holiday shopping done, will quickly hop online and purchase gifts with the click of a button, not thinking about how shopping elsewhere can impact the place they call home.
Every single dollar spent outside of the area just “disappears” from our community. It doesn’t help pay for fire and police resources. It doesn’t help pave or maintain roads. It doesn’t help preserve jobs. And it doesn’t keep the little local businesses the community knows and loves stay in business.
Many local business owners can still feel the aftereffects of the pandemic in their sales numbers, as shoppers’ and diners’ habits changed – some significantly, and many permanently – which, for many mom-and-pop establishments, resulted in lightened customer traffic. Almost every business, both large and small, has also been impacted by increased labor and goods expenses.
Small business owners don’t have a corporate “parent” to help them survive during hard times. The small business owner typically wears almost all of the hats in his/her business – when employees call in sick or can’t work and there’s no one to cover the shift, the business owner has to fill in – or else close their establishment until someone is available to work. When there’s not enough income to pay both the bills and the employees, the owner has to take the hit – and not take any money home to his/her family.

“Shopping locally for the holidays is about more than just finding the perfect gift—it’s about investing in the core and future of Washington County. Each purchase from a local shop supports a small business owner, their family, and the employees they depend on, all while strengthening our local economy, creating jobs and keeping our Delta towns unique.” Mary Catherine Brooks, Chamber Director of the Washington County Economic Alliance, continued by saying, “our mom-and-pop-shops are the heartbeat of our towns, offering personalized gifts, distinctive Mississippi-made and hand-picked products and a genuine commitment to our neighbors. Let’s come together and make a difference where it counts—right here at home.”
These small business owners – and their employees – are friends, family, neighbors, members of local churches and clubs… and the success or failure of their businesses impacts the Leland and surrounding communities directly.
The more that Lelanders shop outside the community, the fewer employees local retailers can afford to have, and the less they can afford to pay the employees that they do have. The employees, in turn, can no longer afford to live here, and they leave, thereby further reducing the community’s tax base and causing other businesses to struggle to survive.
“Small businesses play a significant role in supporting local community charities and causes. Small business owners tend to be more engaged members of the community themselves.” Mary Ann Brocato also stated, “Small businesses donate substantially higher amounts than large businesses to local nonprofits and community causes, creating a positive cycle of giving back.”
Lelanders are urged to express their community pride and show their love, support and patronage to the small and local businesses this holiday season – and beyond.