Editor:

The Holiday Shopping Season is upon us. Where should you shop to spend your dollars in this economic downturn? As time ticks quickly towards the holidays, on behalf of the businesses of the Eastern Shore, I would like to ask you to shop locally.

Why is shopping locally so important to everyone living along the Eastern Shore and in Baldwin County? There are four great reasons: 1. Two percent of sales tax goes directly to the local public schools with 100 percent of those funds remaining in Baldwin County. 2. By doing business locally, the money is reinvested into preserving our unique quality of life. 3. Revenue generated locally supports services such as law enforcement. 4. Local businesses employ individuals who, through their income, support our community.

We are all shopping more wisely this year, we want our dollars to count. Have them count by supporting the communities we have all come to love. The stores tucked away in the corners of the fabric of the Eastern Shore are full of wonderful and beautiful items and well worth the effort. If you need any ideas of where to start, just contact your local chamber we will be more than happy to help you find the stores you need before you begin your shopping excursions. information@eschamber.com. Many local businesses are online, as well!

Think about this. According to Nielsen online, the Global Index Chart for the month of September shows the average Internet audience spends 33 hours on line a month, close to an hour each session. On Nov. 19, ABCNEWS.com published an article: “Online Shopping Spree Poll: Americans Will Spend Twice as Much Online This Holiday Season.

In the poll they found out that Online Shoppers plan to spend $646 online average. Men spend nearly four times as much on the Internet as women. 39 percent of those in households earning $50,000 or more plan to shop online; you get the idea. There are about 80,000 people on the Eastern Shore. If 39 percent of the people (31,200 people) spent $200 of Internet shopping in our local businesses, that would put $6,240,000 back into the community! What an immediate economic impact that would have! If 39 percent of the 180,000 people in Baldwin County (70,300 people) would take $200 of Internet shopping and bring it back locally, that would bring $14,040,000 back into our community! Again, you get the idea.

These are the same businesses and restaurants that donate gift certificates and items for all our churches, schools and nonprofit fundraisers. Let’s work on giving them a great Holiday gift –that will in turn help our communities through sales tax, business licenses, etc.

Thank you for all the ways you already support our community. Let’s all make an effort to take the time to bring a minimum of $200 back to the community. And may we all have a healthy and prosperous new year.

President/CEO

Eastern Shore Chamber of Commerce