Local business workers emphasize importance of shopping local this Christmas
In the midst of both Christmas time and a global pandemic, it has never been easier for people to simply shop online for gifts and presents.
That has not discouraged local businesses like Occasions on Main Street from promoting their products for the community.
Emma Dorris is an MSU student, who also works at Occasions, and she stressed the importance of supporting local businesses.
“As a business major working at a locally owned business, I’ve always had this dream to own a local business of my own one day,” Dorris said. “With the pandemic impacting retail so badly, it’s really made me realize how important it is when people talk about supporting local businesses.
“It’s super easy to order stuff from Amazon or Walmart, because you can just do that on your computer, but when you support a local business, you’re supporting somebody’s dream that they put their whole life into.”
Like most people, Christmas time is a very special time of the year for Dorris, and it means much more to her as someone who wants to own a local business one day.
“I think because Christmas is all about sharing and giving that there’s even more incentive to shop locally,” Dorris said. “Because when you shop locally from someone’s business, you know you’re helping support their family, their dreams and their kids and the things that they do. So, I think it definitely goes hand-in-hand with Christmas time.”
Although it has been difficult for local businesses to operate during the holiday season in the middle of a pandemic, Occasions is doing what they can to adapt to the circumstances.
“The pandemic has definitely taken away business in different parts of the year, just because people are more afraid to go out,” Dorris said. “It’s really scary seeing how many gift shops and local shops downtown that have been closing or aren’t doing as well due to the lack of people out shopping.
“We have definitely done a lot more shipping and I’ve tried to put a big emphasis on our Instagram and Facebook
has limited capacity at MSU’S Humphrey Coliseum to just 10%, or about 1,000 spectators. Along with continued requirements to wear a mask at all times, strong measures have been taken to prevent the spread of the virus at games.
State head men’s basketball coach Ben Howland informed the media of the news during a Thursday afternoon Zoom press conference, then the athletic department confirmed in a release later in the day.
MSU stated that the ticket office will be contacting season ticket holders for updates soon.
Elsewhere in the state, the Governor also mandated that k-12 athletic events be limited to four tickets per athlete.
So far this season, MSU’S men’s team has gotten off to a 3-2 start with three-straight wins. The Bulldogs have a test on Saturday in Atlanta
against Dayton in a game at 11 a.m. and on ESPNEWS. The women’s squad is No. 12 in the country after losing a game to South Florida last week 67-63 in overtime. MSU had two possible games that were slated in the early schedule for this week, but both games against Alabama State and Southern Miss were cancelled by opponents. The Bulldogs (2-1) will next play on Monday night against Troy at Humphrey Coliseum in a 7 p.m. tip.