Rethink the Click: Support Small During Small Business Season
Online shopping is so convenient. Just open a browser and
click a couple of times and your holiday gifts could be on their way. But this
holiday season we’re asking you to rethink the click and support local small
business. It’s good for you and good for them. Here’s why:
Rethink the Click: Shop Small this Holiday
While you can still shop online from local businesses, there are a lot of benefits to rethinking the click and making holiday shopping personal again. When you shop in-person you get the following benefits:
·
Seeing happy faces. For some areas it’s
been a while. It’s therapeutic to see smiles again or just mouths in general.
When you shop in person you can interact with people. Social interaction is good for brain health
and promotes a sense of safety and belonging.
·
Getting your steps in. While it’s no
marathon, getting out there and visiting local businesses is more active than
sitting on the couch clicking.
·
Spending less. Have you ever ordered so
many things online that when you get a notification that a package is coming,
you’re unsure of which one that could be? While people generally spend less in single
shopping sessions online than they do in person (the cart total helps with
that), collectively over the season, you could spend more because items will arrive
at different times. Out of site truly can be out of mind when ordering if
you’re not careful.
·
Feeling serendipitous. When you shop in
person, there’s always a chance of those unexpected finds that you stumble
over. Online you’re at the mercy of the search engine.
·
Making memories. In-person shopping can
be an event. It’s social. People gather to shop and explore the sights and
sounds of the season. Playing Christmas music while shopping on your phone
isn’t nearly as fun as enjoying a hot chocolaty beverage near the town ice
rink.
·
Experiencing bonus. Many small businesses
are offering more than just products and services this season. Some have DIY
classes, makers groups, tastings, and holiday instruction parties. Shopping in
person is an experience.
·
Avoiding eye strain, neck pain, and shoulder
stiffness. Spending too much time online can lead to eye strain, neck pain,
shoulder stiffness and other aches. Instead, put your phone down and get out
there.
· Teaching the next generation that there’s life outside of the internet. If you are the type of parent who believes in limiting screen time, then in-person holiday shopping is a terrific lesson to pass on. According to a 2022 Junior Achievement Survey, 60% of teens want to start their own business. Shopping in person for the holidays will help them have a greater appreciation for being a small business owner.
This holiday season, shop small and rediscover the joy of in-person shopping. Sure, there are some inconveniences but there are also a lot of rewards. Enjoy them all.
Christina Metcalf is a writer/ghostwriter who believes in the power of
story. She works with small businesses, chambers of commerce, and business
professionals who want to make an impression and grow a loyal customer/member
base. She loves road trips, hates exclamation points, and believes the world
would be a better place if we all had our own theme song that played when we
entered the room. What would yours be?
_______________________________________
Twitter: @christinagsmith
Facebook:
@tellyourstorygetemtalking
LinkedIn: @christinagsmith