We invite you to shop local and continue your Small Business Saturday support! We were out among the holiday shoppers and heard many people express their love for our local shops. People were looking for specialty gifts and gifts for their favorite sports fans.  They were enjoying the blessing of the good weather we had both Friday and Saturday. Shops were full everywhere we went. It was a fantastic sight to see.

It was special because they could have shopped anywhere, yet here they were, shopping at the local shops. Here are a few ideas for shopping this December locally.

1. Make a list of the items you need and write the name of the local shops that would carry those items. If you need more time, you can call ahead, and they may even be able to put it aside for you.
2. You can purchase gift cards for that unexpected guest or friend. You can even pre-purchase for birthdays in January.
3. It doesn't even have to be gift related. Want to freshen up your wardrobe for the winter? Take advantage of the great sales happening.
4. Looking for experiences to give? Music lessons, riding lessons, art lessons, plan a trip with your local travel advisor, grab a calendar and select one day a month to meet at a local restaurant, coffee gift cards, zoo memberships, dance classes, cooking classes-the list can go on and on.
5. Purchase and donate books to your local library in honor of someone who loves books.

There are so many options for shopping locally and gift-giving. But it doesn't have to be gifts; it could be items you need regularly. When our businesses thrive, our community thrives, and we thrive.