Officials encourage consumers to shop local this holiday season

DELMARVA. – It’s that time of year, when consumers get ready to spend big on holiday gifts.

With Black Friday coming soon, President of the of the Salisbury Area Chamber Of Commerce, Bill Chambers, said consumers may switch to a more non-traditional way of shopping, to save some cash.

“You’re going see 25% of all of our holiday sales online this year, and of course, that takes away from our brick-and-mortar retailers, here, in Wicomico County, and on the Eastern Shore,” Chambers said.

As consumers choose to online shop, Chambers said that money leaves the shore, and businesses rely on those local dollars to push them through the rest of the year.

“They need our support, especially during the holidays. 40% of their bottom line is holiday expenditures,” Chambers said.

President of the Rehoboth Beach Chamber Of Commerce, Carol Everhart, said if you want to keep that money circulating in your community, you should check out the First State’s shopping incentives.

“Delaware is tax free, so we are the place to be if you’re shopping for anything,” Everhart said. “Over 20 million people are within a couple hour drive of here, so they come in for the day, shop, and then go home.”

If you do decide you want to shop local this holiday season, Chambers has a few tips that could save you money in the long run.

“If you’re a consumer, use Facebook. Check out your small retailer’s Facebook page. They may not have an app, or they may not have some of those sophisticated things big retailers do, but most of all, on Facebook, I would check out specials that they’re going to run for Black Friday,” Chambers said.