Howell County News
It may seem early to talk about it.
In fact, I may talk about it so much between now and then that you get sick of it.
I understand that Halloween is still more than a week away, but if you haven’t really looked at your calendar – really looked at it – in the past couple of weeks, I’d encourage you to do so.
The official countdown to Christmas doesn’t begin until Thanksgiving, but in reality, retailers start much, much earlier.
Many local retailers have been stocking store shelves as full as they can get with Christmas storage bags, chess sets, and John Deere toys, over the past month or more, all hoping to boost sales this year.
As for Springfield retailers, I was surprised when, on Sept. 23, I was looking through the Halloween section of a “stuff” store. I popped around the corner of the aisle I was on, which was crammed with Halloween gear, and what was just around the corner?
You guessed it. Christmas stuff was already in place, and it was still more than a month until Halloween.
While I’m not too fond of thinking about Christmas before we’ve even had Halloween, the reality is, we have to. Especially this year.
This year, more people probably are shopping a little earlier, or at least that’s what retailers have told me. With people squeezing pennies until they hurt, it only makes sense to spread out expenses as much as possible.
Of course, with many folks out of work or working less than they have in the past, it’s also going to be more competitive for retailers who are making a run at your Christmas wallet.
And that’s why, more than ever, I want to encourage you to shop locally.
Over the next few weeks – nine newspapers before Christmas, but who’s counting? – I’m going to encourage you on more than one occasion to spend those hard-earned dollars at home. We’ll talk about sales tax and other reasons to shop locally.
But for starters, I want you to think about the gripes and grumbles you may have had about a local business.
Right after that, ask yourself if you talked to a manager or clerk – in a friendly, positive and constructive manner – about your concerns. Did you really give the business a chance to meet your expectations?
Then, ask yourself another important question.
So if you don’t like the selection at a local store – a grocery, ALCO or whatever – how would you like it if you didn’t have the choice at all?
As a person who spends a good chunk of my time on the road visiting our advertising customers, I cannot emphasize enough how important it is to shop at home.
Our local businesses employ our friends and neighbors, and are willing to go the extra mile. Example? When I was pregnant with our daughter who turned 3 this week, our local pharmacist returned a call we left on his home’s answering machine well after 10 p.m. I somehow had run out of insulin and was very worried about making it until morning. He offered to come into the store for my husband to meet him.
I doubt you’ll find that kind of a willingness to help in a big city or from the big “stuff marts” that undoubtedly will soon start advertising their Christmas specials.
And though it has been a very difficult year for many businesses, the folks I know also remain positive.
Each time I call on a certain female customer, she responds that she’s happy to still have the doors open to service customers.
She says it hasn’t been a good year, but is quick to add she’s been blessed.
These same business owners are the ones who buy popcorn from your Boy Scout, donate to the benefit you’re organizing and whose names are on the backs of T-shirts far and wide for another event or cause they’ve supported.
Most businesses also understand they have to stay competitive, and will do their best – but can’t compete on everything. When stores are buying in quantities of 10 or 20, they can’t be as competitive as another store buying in the thousands.
Also, your local businesses know you. They know the names of your kids, grandkids and pets. They remember an ailment or illness of a family member and ask you about it.
They also know that this has been a tough year for their customers. And they understand that, as local communities, we’re all in this together.
Support of a local business helps support local charities who are helping loved ones who are out of work. And the chain goes on.
But at the end of the day, there’s one basic reason for you to keep your dollars at home.
Your local businesses need you.
For every holiday purchase you plan to make, I encourage you to at least check prices with your local retailers who offer what you want. Do your best to select as much as you can locally before heading off to what may or may not be greener pastures for shopping.
Shopping at home has long been a phrase championed by local chambers of commerce.
This year, it’s more than that.
It’s never been more important.
In fact, I may talk about it so much between now and then that you get sick of it.
I understand that Halloween is still more than a week away, but if you haven’t really looked at your calendar – really looked at it – in the past couple of weeks, I’d encourage you to do so.
The official countdown to Christmas doesn’t begin until Thanksgiving, but in reality, retailers start much, much earlier.
Many local retailers have been stocking store shelves as full as they can get with Christmas storage bags, chess sets, and John Deere toys, over the past month or more, all hoping to boost sales this year.
As for Springfield retailers, I was surprised when, on Sept. 23, I was looking through the Halloween section of a “stuff” store. I popped around the corner of the aisle I was on, which was crammed with Halloween gear, and what was just around the corner?
You guessed it. Christmas stuff was already in place, and it was still more than a month until Halloween.
While I’m not too fond of thinking about Christmas before we’ve even had Halloween, the reality is, we have to. Especially this year.
This year, more people probably are shopping a little earlier, or at least that’s what retailers have told me. With people squeezing pennies until they hurt, it only makes sense to spread out expenses as much as possible.
Of course, with many folks out of work or working less than they have in the past, it’s also going to be more competitive for retailers who are making a run at your Christmas wallet.
And that’s why, more than ever, I want to encourage you to shop locally.
Over the next few weeks – nine newspapers before Christmas, but who’s counting? – I’m going to encourage you on more than one occasion to spend those hard-earned dollars at home. We’ll talk about sales tax and other reasons to shop locally.
But for starters, I want you to think about the gripes and grumbles you may have had about a local business.
Right after that, ask yourself if you talked to a manager or clerk – in a friendly, positive and constructive manner – about your concerns. Did you really give the business a chance to meet your expectations?
Then, ask yourself another important question.
So if you don’t like the selection at a local store – a grocery, ALCO or whatever – how would you like it if you didn’t have the choice at all?
As a person who spends a good chunk of my time on the road visiting our advertising customers, I cannot emphasize enough how important it is to shop at home.
Our local businesses employ our friends and neighbors, and are willing to go the extra mile. Example? When I was pregnant with our daughter who turned 3 this week, our local pharmacist returned a call we left on his home’s answering machine well after 10 p.m. I somehow had run out of insulin and was very worried about making it until morning. He offered to come into the store for my husband to meet him.
I doubt you’ll find that kind of a willingness to help in a big city or from the big “stuff marts” that undoubtedly will soon start advertising their Christmas specials.
And though it has been a very difficult year for many businesses, the folks I know also remain positive.
Each time I call on a certain female customer, she responds that she’s happy to still have the doors open to service customers.
She says it hasn’t been a good year, but is quick to add she’s been blessed.
These same business owners are the ones who buy popcorn from your Boy Scout, donate to the benefit you’re organizing and whose names are on the backs of T-shirts far and wide for another event or cause they’ve supported.
Most businesses also understand they have to stay competitive, and will do their best – but can’t compete on everything. When stores are buying in quantities of 10 or 20, they can’t be as competitive as another store buying in the thousands.
Also, your local businesses know you. They know the names of your kids, grandkids and pets. They remember an ailment or illness of a family member and ask you about it.
They also know that this has been a tough year for their customers. And they understand that, as local communities, we’re all in this together.
Support of a local business helps support local charities who are helping loved ones who are out of work. And the chain goes on.
But at the end of the day, there’s one basic reason for you to keep your dollars at home.
Your local businesses need you.
For every holiday purchase you plan to make, I encourage you to at least check prices with your local retailers who offer what you want. Do your best to select as much as you can locally before heading off to what may or may not be greener pastures for shopping.
Shopping at home has long been a phrase championed by local chambers of commerce.
This year, it’s more than that.
It’s never been more important.
