Hometown shopping benefits everyone

‘Tis the season to wrap up Christmas shopping.

As I look around Sandpoint and North Idaho, I have more of an appreciation for hometown merchants this year than ever before.

And while I believe the commercialization of Christmas has gotten way out of hand — exactly which Wise Man had an Xbox 360 or Nintendo wii at the manger? — the truth is that most local merchants depend on Christmas shoppers to keep their doors open.

One-quarter of us wait until this week to finish Christmas shopping. Some of us even wait until the last day. That would be me.

For the past five years, I have been determined to do all of my Christmas shopping in and around Sandpoint. I believe you do business with those who do business with you and I respect the many business leaders who step up and help out those in need.

If you have a business here, you have been asked at least a dozen times since Nov. 1 to donate to a needy family, a fundraiser for school or numerous other causes.

If you haven’t considered shopping at home this year, why not give it a shot? Just look in today’s huge newspaper for North Idaho shopping ideas and check the Daily Bee in print and online all next week to see which local merchants want your business.

This has been a tough year to own a retail business here. The merchants I talk with have had a pretty slow holiday shopping season after a pretty good Black Friday. Don’t even mention how the entire year went for them … it wasn’t pretty.

When I asked several of my merchant friends what would make their Christmas season a success, not one of them said selling more.

Each of them said they would be happy if people would just stop into their stores to see what items they offer before they jumped in their cars and headed to Spokane or Coeur d’Alene or jumped on the Internet.

I don’t think that is a whole lot to ask.

Our business community props up nearly everything we do here. They hire our high school kids, provide employment, give to nearly every cause possible and all they ask is that you stop and compare?

That sounds like a pretty doable Christmas wish. And while you’re in the store, why not thank the merchant for all he or she does to make this such a special place?

David Keyes is publisher of the Daily Bee.