Top 5 Reasons to Shop Local this Christmas
By Annette Jamieson
1. Shop local because it’s not shipped from overseas!
If you haven’t started your Holiday shopping, start now! With the high possibility of shortages in the supply chain this holiday season, there is a good chance that the popular gifts that are shipped from overseas may not be on the shelf this year. Don’t panic, the number one way to find gifts for your friends and loved ones in time is to shop local for the holidays!
2. Find unique and One-of-a-Kind gifts
If you are shopping for someone who already has everything, finding a meaningful gift can be challenging. When you shop locally, you find more creative items that you wouldn’t find anywhere else. Christmas Craft Shows are a great place to start in our hometown of Helena. A wonderful place to find local treasures is the Wassweiler Mercantile. Looking for more vintage style gifts, take a stroll into Mae & June Vintage Market and find one-of-a-kind gifts. What about the fashionista in your life? Poppyseed Boutique has a great collection of beautiful clothing and the latest trends.
3. Support the local economy
When you shop local, money stays in your local community. What a heartwarming gift to give back to your community business owners, their families, and their employees this holiday. Stop into Sage & Oats in Downtown Helena to find some magical gifts for your loved ones. If you are looking for Made in Montana gifts, look no further than the Museum Store located at the Montana Historical Society Museum. This gift shop has a wide variety of books, jewelry, Western art, pottery and more!
4. Shopping local boosts job growth in your community
By shopping local this year, you create job stability for current working citizens in our community. Need a gift for someone who has everything and want to support your local community? Buy a gift card to one of your favorite local restaurants or purchase Downtown Helena Nuggets. Think outside the box this year. Gift boxes from Community Crate are full of local goods and they deliver right to your loved ones doorstep! Holiday treats are also a tasty gift. Nothing says Happy Holidays like a delicious dessert tray from the Vanilla Bean Bakery or a box of delicious chocolates from the Parrot Confectionery.
5. Keep our community unique
Shopping locally is the best way to show pride in your city and help protect the businesses that make our city unique. Where we shop, where we eat and have fun – all of it makes our community home. Our one-of-a-kind businesses are an integral part of the distinctive character of this place. Our tourism businesses also benefit.
For all Helena area shops, visit our website: Visit Helena.