Shop local and find holiday cheer

We have two words we would like to share with you this holiday season: 

Shop local. 

Yes, you’ve heard them before and you’re about to hear them again. We repeat these two words because of their importance, not just to business owners, but to you, to the people who live, work and play here, and to the place we call home. 

This is a critical time for our local business owners. What they earn in the coming weeks is what carries them through the slower months of winter to spring. They employ thousands. They donate to fundraisers. They participate in events. These people who commit their lives and resources to providing services and products we want and need and are examples of why we live in such a great place. They put their very heart and soul into their shops. These people are not getting rich, but they are doing what they love. Anytime someone opens their own business, it’s a risk. We applaud such courage. 

We urge you to visit downtown Coeur d’Alene. Stop at The Plaza Shops. Take a drive to midtown. Check out the stores at Riverstone. Visit the Silver Lake Mall. Post Falls, Rathdrum, Hayden, Athol and Spirit Lake are home to stores with employees who would love to see you walk through the front door.  

This area has many wonderful shops to see and many wonderful people to meet. We wonder why anyone would rather spend their money online than support local businesses. Yes, you may find cheaper products on a website for a retailer thousands of miles away, and yes, that’s probably fine if you are not concerned about quality, service or keeping your money local, which drives the local economy. Even if you do save money shopping online, even if it is more convenient, we argue it’s not worth it. You will find you sacrificed a lot for a few cents. 

It's safe to say that small businesses are very good at making customers happy. They have to be, or they won't be around long. They need you and you need them. Find that Christmas connection.

What you won’t find online are the personalities of the people within the warmth of local shops. You won’t be greeted with smiles. You won’t be offered assistance. You won’t leave feeling like you’re the most important person in the world, because to our local shops, you are the most important person in the world. 

If you don’t believe us, we ask you to put our argument to the test. Visit downtown shops. Check out the offerings. Chat with employees. Buy something. 

We are confident you will come away satisfied, even happy. You will make the holidays better not just for the stores you visit and the people you meet, but for the very place you call home.