5 Reasons to Shop Local This Christmas
Contrary to what the media want you to believe, Christmas is not in danger.
The work of local artisans, farmers and small businesses is not stuck on the docks of Dover, Liverpool, or Hull in a shipping container.
This is the perfect opportunity to shop local this Christmas to save money and help local businesses.
Why is it So Important to Shop Local this Christmas?
In this era of globalisation, it is hard to find the time and resources to shop locally. The retail industry has been struggling through a lot of changes. With the advent of online shopping, there are fewer and fewer physical stores that we can turn too. This means that in order to keep our local businesses and communities alive, we need to shop at them.
A number of studies have found that people who buy from local stores spend more money and are more likely to be loyal customers. This is in stark contrast to those who buy from chain stores or online retailers. It makes shopping locally an extremely vital way for communities to increase their economic vitality and strengthen their social fabric.
Local Businesses are a Vital Part of Your Community
Local businesses are a vital part of your community because they provide jobs, goods and services for the people in their communities. It is estimated that 63p of every £1 spent at small and medium-sized businesses stays in the local economy, as compared to just 40p at large businesses.
Why You Shouldn’t Worry About Shipping This Christmas
The Christmas season is a time when people are looking to buy gifts for their loved ones.
This year, many people are looking to shop online to avoid the hassle of heading out into the cold and dealing with parking. But is it worth it? Is it more economical?
In this section, we will discuss the pros and cons of both shopping in-store and shopping online.
Shopping Online this Christmas
Most people face time constraints when they want to shop for gifts. Online shopping is more convenient. You can easily find and buy the appropriate gift for your loved ones in a matter of minutes.
Online shopping also offers convenience with delivery. Also, with online shopping, you don’t have to sit in traffic jams, wait in hours-long lines, park outside, and trudge through snow and slush in order to get your packages home. I swear this is something like Ebenezer Scrooge from A Christmas Tale may have said. Besides, for some this is one of the joys of the Yuletide season!
If your loved ones are far away, you can easily send a gift without ever having to leave the comfort and convenience of your home.
Shopping Local this Christmas
However, when you shop local this Christmas you can do so with friends or family members and make it into a day out if you wish. You can get into the festive spirit and hear carol singers, smell mulled wine and roast chestnuts in the air and sample lots of tasty, seasonal treats.
You can learn to appreciate the freedom and simple pleasures of being outside after lockdown like previous years.
The shops are open late, so after Christmas shopping in your local stores why not enjoy a festive dinner and drinks before heading home? You can find many meal deals on offer when passing by cafes, pubs and restaurants.
Explore areas of your town you haven’t been to for a while. Seek out local businesses and specialist shops to find interesting and novel gifts for someone special in your life.
I’m always amazed at the small shops that I’ve forgotten about or have popped up when I revisit my home town.
You can also find lots of interesting items for sale and seasonal cheer at a Christmas market. You just can’t get the same bonhomie ordering things online. When you order all your Christmas gifts from the internet you’ll be missing out on the little things that add up to make Christmas such a magical time of year.
Shopping local this Christmas helps to build a sense of community and it also promotes local businesses.
The benefits of buying locally this Xmas cannot be denied. It is a win-win situation.
Why You Should Ditch Online Shopping This Christmas and Support Your Local Shops Instead
Okay, no one is about to ditch online shopping this Christmas or any other time of the year. However, there are many reasons why you should at least reduce your online shopping this Christmas and support local retailer instead. Here are some of them:
You’ll be helping your community and small businesses
Local shops are often the backbone of our communities, and they help keep money in the area. When you shop at a local store, you give back to your community and help it thrive. Paradoxically, shopping at corporate chain stores sucks money and life out of the community.
You’ll be able to get better customer service
Shopping at a neighbourhood store means that you can support small business owners who often have more time to give back to their communities than big-box retailers do. And as many local businesses have their own website or Facebook page, you can still browse their store online before you wrap up and venture out.
Nothing beats talking to a passionate business owner about their products and services. Local business entrepreneurs are a wealth of knowledge you can tap into and they genuinely want to provide you with what you want and need. You can’t get that kind of ‘human’ touch from a faceless corporate entity. You can also politely ask for a discount. You never know, if you don’t ask, you don’t get!
It will help you find unique gifts that you won’t find online
There is little chance of wearing a dress by the same designer at the office Christmas party if you buy it from an independent shop. This is because independent shops stock items made locally.
Independent shops are known for their quirky one-of-a-kind gifts. A handmade toy is a thoughtful gift idea for your nephew or niece if you don’t want them to have something they already own.
There’s also the hyper-local gift choice like craft chocolate makers, breweries, tea shops, or scented candle makers. Independent bookshops often stock titles by regional authors that aren’t yet on the shelves of the major chains. Local shops also support independent artists and designers, food producers and growers, so you’re buying items that are unique to your area.
It will reduce the environmental impact of your purchase
Local, small businesses are also more conscious of their plastic packaging usage than large corporations. According to a research published in Environmental Science & Technology, deliveries from local shops generate fewer carbon emissions than deliveries from large online retailers.
You may be able to try before you buy
Big box retailers have the advantage of economies of scale and can afford to slash prices, reduce costs and undercut local businesses to drive out competition. They can then ramp up prices when they are eliminated. So if we don’t support local business now, we will all be paying more for everything in the future. However, it’s easy to buy products you may not actually like… that Christmas jumper for instance!
You can hardly crack open a bottle of vino in a supermarket aisle and do a quick taste test. In addition, it is not possible to determine if a chocolate bar is delicious by taking a big bite. Furthermore, you cannot smell, taste and feel online. At independent local retailers, however, it’s easier to ask for samples of a product. Wine tasting events are often held by independent off-licences, while farm shops, bakeries, and delis regularly offer tastings.
Spread the Christmas Spirit
Sharing is caring! When you have a fun and positive experience, find a crazy deal or discover a worthy local business this Christmas, remember to give them a Google review or a shout out on social media. As well as helping local business owners, it lets other shoppers know who to support and where to fill Santa’s sack.
A merry Christmas from all of us, to all of you!
5 Reasons to Shop Local This Christmas
Perry Stevens is the founder of BIGPriceDrops and a long-time digital marketer with a practical interest in helping UK shoppers find better value online. He focuses on clear, no-nonsense money-saving content, Amazon UK deal insights, and buyer guides that help readers spot genuine savings without falling for misleading discounts or impulse-buy traps.
When he is not working on BIGPriceDrops, Perry runs Blend Local Search Marketing and works on digital projects covering SEO, AI tools, and online business growth. His approach is simple: help people make smarter decisions before they spend their money.
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