Consider shopping at our local, small businesses this holiday shopping season.
Across White County, independently owned stores, boutiques and galleries offer unique gifts that cannot easily be found online or in big box stores. Local businesses want your patron- age, and often value providing their customers the best service they pos- sibly can. You may even make some new friends. Not to mention, the fun of searching for and finding just the right present for that person in your life who seemingly “has everything.” And, when you shop local, you can be sure that you are supporting our community’s economy.
In Georgia, over 99.7% of business- es are considered small, according to the U.S. Small Business Admin- istration. The Georgia Department of Economic Development defines a small business as one that is inde- pendently owned and operated and employs fewer than 300 workers. There are 1.3 million small busi- nesses in our state, according to a report released earlier this year by the University of Georgia Small Business Development Center. This same report states that 42.5% of Georgia’s small businesses are minority owned, 47.7% of them are owned by women, 10% are owned by Latinos and 6.6% are veteran-owned. Small businesses across the state em- ploy 1.7 million people, according to the Small Business Development Center.
The American Independent Business Alliance maintains that when people shop locally, 48% of revenue is recirculated into the local economy which in turn creates wealth and jobs. This phenomenon is known as the multiplier effect.
In addition, small local businesses tend to be involved in the community. Our small business owners often support our local schools, charities and civic organizations. Without their support, many more people would go wanting.
To help make shopping local easy and fun this holiday season, the White County News, along with its sister papers across North Georgia, have compiled a slim, pocket-book friendly publication titled “Holiday Guide & Local Eats 2025.” The guide also has detailed calendars of holiday events, like parades, tree lightings and more, across five of North Georgia’s counties. This handy publication can help you find quaint shops and enticing eateries in or near your own backyard.
So, why make a lengthy, traffic-laden commute into a crowd- ed, big city when you can find holiday treasures right here at home?