Local businesses ready for your Holiday spree
Christmas holiday shopping season is in full gear in Medicine Hat, and local retailers want your business, says Perry Deering, president of the Medicine Hat Chamber of Commerce and owner of Deerview Meats.
“A lot of our local businesses are going with special incentives to help keep those dollars in the community by using special holiday coupons,” says Deering. “If you shop local, you have access to all these discounts and coupons. We hope those extra savings inspire someone to visit our stores here instead of going online or going elsewhere.”
Deering says there is a feeling of optimism in the air for this year’s shopping season.
“There is a lot of good energy out there this year,” he said. “We have kind of gotten over the doom and gloom economy, and we are happy to see that behind us. There is lots of activity around town with new construction and stores going up ... I believe we have turned a corner and a lot of people are thinking let’s go out there to enjoy Christmas, and do some spending.”
Baigent’s Auto Sales owner Howard Baigent hopes people in the community realize how important it is to support local businesses during this holiday season.
“You just try to support the local people,” he says. “Because with the money you shop out of town, it doesn’t matter what you are buying, a stove, a fridge, a car or toys, the money stays out of town. It doesn’t come back to Medicine Hat.”
Cyclepath owner Greg Watson agrees, and says it goes beyond even that: By shopping local, you are supporting the entire foundation of what makes Medicine Hat a strong community.
“People need to remember when they support local they are not only supporting the store,” he says. “But also their own tax infrastructure: Schools, roads, hospitals and everything else that goes along with living in the community.”
Christmas is an important time of the year for all local retailers, says Watson, and is crucial to his own business as well.
“Christmas is always nice for us considering this is not otherwise our peak season,” he states. “Thankfully, bicycles are a big thing for kids and adults to get this time of year as presents.”
Deering echoes what Watson and Baigent say about the importance of Christmas retail dollars staying local.
“There are businesses where they have their strong parts of the season, and for the majority of small business retailers the holiday season is kind of their bread and butter,” he says. “Shopping local, there is more to it than meets the eye. Studies have proven that for every dollar spent, it re-circulates into the local business and turns into seven dollars. Those are really awesome ways of strengthening local businesses. It truly is a ripple effect.”