The businesses may be small but the impact is has huge potential when you shop locally this holiday season, according to West Virginia University Extension Service Specialist Kelly Nix.

Small Business Saturday is a movement across the country encouraging people to shop at locally owned brick and mortar businesses. The event takes place the first Saturday after Thanksgiving and falls on Nov. 28 this year.

“From local pottery to regional wines, when you purchase from a small business instead of a large national chain, you invest directly into the local economy and generate vitality for small towns, local businesses and artisans,” says Nix, the WVU Extension Service leadership specialist.

Nix said that this event not only helps financially support the economic advancement in towns across West Virginia, but extends in other areas of the community.

“When you buy at a local business you’re supporting your friends and neighbors,” Nix said.

She used Garcia’s Latin Market in Morgantown as an example. Like many other small businesses, they offer a unique product. In this case, it’s their own brand tortilla chips and tortillas. The business also gives back by partnering with other businesses and local charities.

“This time of year so many people are looking to make a difference in the lives of others. Let’s not forget those local shops which often play big roles in community service and outreach,” Nix said.

With a number of quality, West Virginian-owned businesses in communities and small towns throughout the state, all you have to do is seek them out.

Nix suggested the best place to find local shops and businesses is on “Main Street” of the town you’re visiting. Communities across the state usually have one street that offers boutique shopping, family-owned restaurants and other West Virginian-owned businesses. Find it and see what they have to offer.

Spending at a local store or restaurant drives the entire economy forward. Learn more about how contributing even a small amount to local businesses regularly has a huge impact on the local economy and state economy.

Gifts are just part of shopping local. You can find many of the ingredients for family recipes or locally-made cheeses and wines for the holidays—or any day—from local businesses and marketplaces.

Places like the Capitol Market in Charleston offer a large amount of handcrafted goods and West Virginia-made foods from across the state, available all-year-long.

“Although visiting the communities and towns where small businesses are located is part of the appeal to shopping local, you can still support small businesses and create a strong local business economy in West Virginia by purchasing products from West Virginian merchants online,” added Nix.

Although Small Business Saturday is the single-most recognized day of the year where small business shopping is highly encouraged, it shouldn’t be the only time of year that you frequent your local business owners’ shops advised Nix.

“West Virginia small businesses are open throughout the year,” Nix said. “It’s important that we support them through every season and not just during the holidays.”

Find local, handcrafted West Virginia goods here.

For information on community development or tourism, contact the WVU Extension Service Office of Community Resources and Economic Development at 304-293-6967.

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cat/zl/11/20/15

CONTACT: Cassie Thomas, WVU Extension Service
304.293.8735, Cassie.Thomas@mail.wvu.edu

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