TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Highlands Today

Merchants See Upswing In Local Buying

Bill Rettew Jr./Highlands Today

From left: Shoppers Lynetta Mann, Nancy Turner and clerk, Willie Fox, take a break from work at Dr. Barbara Platte's dentist office. They walked to The Caladium Coop, Thursday, to do some Christmas shopping.

ADVERTISEMENT

By BILL RETTEW JR.

Highlands Today

Published: December 6, 2008

SEBRING - Rather than shopping exclusively at Orlando or Lake Wales malls, more Highlands County Christmas shoppers are buying gifts locally than they did last year.

"Why go out of the area to shop at the same stores?" asked Pauline Price, of Sebring.

Willie Fox worked behind the counter at the Caladium Arts and Crafts Cooperative on Thursday.

"You can get something special and really unique, while supporting a local artist and our local town," said Fox. "Why pay the gas or take the time to go out of town? Time is a big thing at the holidays and there's not enough of it."

Linda Tucker owns Linda's Books in Sebring and said business was up from last year for the past three weeks.

"We picked up a few customers who used to go to Lakeland because they're saving gas," said Tucker.

Tucker continues to receive several inquires about buying gift certificates locally instead of purchasing gift cards from chain stores.

"Rather than guessing and giving little hints, it's easier to give gift certificates than to hand somebody a book," said Tucker.

Jeanne Fortier, of Home & Office Essentials in Lake Placid, said Thursday that during the previous day's meeting of the Lake Placid Merchants Association, not a single shop owner complained about the poor economy.

"People are shopping more locally," said the president of the local chamber board and the merchant's association. "The businesses are supporting each other. We're all helping each other."

The Lake Placid business association is hosting several days of "Home for the Holiday's Open Houses" starting Dec. 10. Door prizes, holiday decorations and refreshments are expected to draw the crowds.

Eileen May, Greater Lake Placid Chamber of Commerce CEO/president of operations, is taking part in a program with the other two county chambers, "Be Smart. Save Gas. Shop Locally."

"Shopping locally is the right thing to do and we need to support our local residents," said May.

Sarah Pallone, of the Greater Sebring Chamber, and David Greenslade, of the Avon Park Chamber, also encouraged residents to shop closer to home.

"People are noting that it makes a difference in the county," said Pallone. "A lot of our businesses started advertising earlier than they did in the past with Christmas specials.

People are really in the holiday spirit.

Karen Lanier owns the ABC House of Scrap Booking Inc. and prefers to shop at local merchants rather than mass marketers.

"I'd rather go to a hometown business than a chain store. We give a lot of personal attention and even teach them to use the things we sell.

"And we're competitive. We sell for the same price."

Bill Rettew Jr. may be contacted at 863-386-5857 or wrettew@highlandstoday.com

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT