25 Days of Christmas: 10 Reasons to Shop Local For the Holidays

One of the most important values my mother instilled in me is a sense of community. It doesn't matter where you live, or even if you like where you live. Community is very important and encompasses much more of our lives than we often realize. I'm not going to get into the sociology of community- I just want to urge you to think of small and local businesses this holiday season.

10 Reasons to Shop Local This Holiday Season

1. You would be amazed at the personalization small businesses may offer on gift items. Many times you can get an item embroidered for no charge, or even free engraving on a piece of jewelry. 
2. You get better customer service when dealing with local businesses. The mom and pop stores take a special pride in their relationships with customers. You will benefit from this relationship. 
3. More money stays in your community when you shop local. This is because of businesses owners and employees shopping local and the taxes stay there. 
4. You don't have to pay shipping fees. Just the gas to get there. 
5. It does everyone good to get out of the house and from behind the computer to interact with others. Put on a Santa cap and make someone's day.
6. By shopping locally, you are instilling a sense of community in the younger generations ensuring that your town does not become a ghost town. 
7. You would be amazed by the truly unique gifts you can find just by walking in the door. 
8. You are more likely to get a smile and be greeted by the shop owner when you are staying local. There is no way you are going to be greeted by the CEO of Amazon when you log on. 
9. Quality if of the utmost importance. The items sold in local stores are carefully selected by the owners to provide quality to their customers. 
10. You will be valued more. Local businesses rely on the good experience of each and every patron for their businesses to survive. There aren't millions of customers to drown out the complaints. 

I hope you decide to pop into your local shop this weekend. If you do, let me know what you found and what your favorite shop is!

I have two blogs for you today, written by the amazing blogger Bethany! Bethany writes No Twiddle Twaddle about play ideas and children's literature. She even has a lot of lists of free Kindle Books for kids. No Twiddle Twaddle has become my go to blog for collecting titles for my little prince. I love her blog and her kiddos are adorable. (It must be the South Carolina air that makes kids cute!)

She also writes Kidding Around Greenville South Carolina. Bethany and her friend share kid-friendly restaraunts, hang-outs, cultural opportunities, and activities. She promises no Chuck.E.Cheese in sight! Grab a cup of coffee and find those places to take the kids that you thought were only in your dreams.