Buy local.  Shop local.  It’s all the rage right now right?  We hear it everywhere.

We feel like we should shop local, but it’s so darn easy to click and buy online.  I know, I do it too.  It’s hard not to buy from them sometimes.  The price is right and if you can stand to wait a few days, you might save a few bucks.  Plus it delivers right to your door, no need to even go out.  I know.  It’s so easy!  And darn that Kohl’s Cash!!!

But you don’t really matter to Amazon, Toys R Us, Craftsy or Kohls.  Not really.

As a small business owner, I can tell you that you matter at our store. That every purchase matters at our store. Every. Single. One.

So, if you love a local, independent business you should buy something from them! Even one thing this holiday season. An independent hair salon, liquor store, coffee shop, yarn store.  I don’t know about you, but I love walking into my local independent liquor store and having the owner know my name.  On second thought…maybe the liquor store isn’t a great example:)  But…you know what I mean.

Take your local yarn store for example.  If you visit your local yarn store enough, they probably know your name, or at least your face.  They probably remember you had knee replacement surgery or they ask about an ailing parent.  They probably helped you pick up a dropped stitch or talked you through a pattern that you just couldn’t sort out on your own.  They probably helped you pick out the perfect yarn and pattern for your friend who needed a chemo cap.  You don’t have that kind of relationship with an online yarn store. You just don’t.

I am going to challenge you in the last minute hustle of this holiday season, challenge you to buy 5 presents off of your holiday list from an independent local business. It’s not as hard as you might think!

In downtown Stillwater alone we must have over 60 independent businesses.  At least!

I challenge you to buy 5 things:)

Let me know how you do!!