SHOP LOCAL FOR THE HOLIDAYS | GET INTO THE HOLIDAY SPIRIT
local holiday events
Christmas festivals: There may not be one in your town, but if not, it stands to
reason there’s probably one nearby. In November and December, small and mid-size
towns across the country host downtown Christmas festivals, with local stores and
organizations participating to encourage folks to shop and spend some time outside
the big box stores.
Look for deals
Most shops offer deals or coupons as part of a Christmas festival event, and it’s
a great time to get some shopping done while taking advantage of the sales. With
so much foot traffic hitting the area at one time, shops are usually fighting it out for
attention — which is good news for shoppers. Also check with the local Chamber
of Commerce to see if there might be a local coupon book for an event.
Make memories
Along with getting some shopping done, these festivals often also feature car-
oling, Christmas tree decorating contests, and sometimes even horse-drawn car-
riage rides. If the weather cooperates, it can be a great way to get into the Christmas
spirit and have a fun and affordable night out. Be sure to see if there’s a schedule
available for live music and events, so you can plan accordingly.
Don’t forget dinner
With shops trying to lure in customers around holiday events, local restaurants
often get in on the festivities, as well. Some will have special meals and promotions
around the holiday season, so you might even be able to change things up with a
Christmas-themed dinner to go along with all the shopping.
Remember to explore
Having everyone out around downtown means local shops are often putting their
best foots forward, so it’s a great opportunity to try out some stores or restaurants
you’ve never visited — or perhaps even noticed — before. Make it a point to visit
at least one place you’ve never been, just to see what you might be missing.
spread the word
KNOW A GREAT LOCAL BUSINESS? DON’T BE SILENT ABOUT IT. SMALL BUSINESSES NEED YOUR HELP, SO OPEN
UP AND HELP SPREAD THE WORD ANY TIME YOU’RE IMPRESSED BY A LOCALLY OWNED SHOP.
In many ways, it’s the small things that make
the best local shops stand out. They might greet
their frequent customers by name, stock products
that no other stores offer, donate time and money
to local causes and provide a more unique shop-
ping experience that chain stores can’t match.
Look for these things when you’re out shop-
ping, and let your friends know when you find
them. You’ll be helping your friends out and
doing your part to keep your favorite businesses
open and thriving.
Social Media
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest
have opened new doors for spreading the word
about your favorite businesses. In fact, online is
where a lot of word-of-mouth marketing happens
these days as friends share and photograph their
everyday shopping trips — for better or worse.
10 • HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS 2016 • WWW.DAILYASTORIAN.COM
If you run across a local business that’s doing
a great job, snap a picture or write a post about it.
A few good words on social media can have a
positive impact for the “shop local” movement
in your community.
It Matters
Studies have shown that buyers trust recommenda-
tions from their friends and family far more than they
do messages from strangers. Your opinion carries a lot
of weight with the people you know, so you can play a
big role in helping people avoid the bad shops and flock
to the good ones.
So this Christmas, don’t do your shopping in
a communications vacuum. Look for the best
products and experiences in your community this
holiday season and share them with the people
around you.
Friends and business owners will thank you.