By Staff
Jonathan Willis
Thanksgiving, as we all know, is for eating turkey, visiting with relatives, giving thanks and, of course, the kickoff to Christmas shopping.
The Franklin County Times wants to encourage each of you to shop here at home as much as possible.
Just like the chamber of commerce's ongoing promotion says, "Shop Franklin County…It Matters."
It really does matter.
Why shop locally this Christmas selling season?
There are many reasons.
First, even though a tank of gas has finally fallen back down to levels we can afford, shopping locally saves you the wear and tear of driving back and forth to other parts of the state.
We all have the tendency to think we need to go to Birmingham or Huntsville to do our Christmas shopping, but that's not the case.
You will find local retailers right here in Franklin County who have the products and services you are looking for.
There are also many fine places in the Shoals area as well.
When local residents shop at home it helps the local economy. While that is true, expressing it this way outs things in a more personal light.
In many cases it is literally true that it helps your friends and neighbors who own these stores and who only ask that you give them a try before heading somewhere else.
Our investment with them doesn't just fill their pockets, but enables them to provide a greater shopping selection with increased future inventories.
Another reason has to do with taxes.
It doesn't matter where you shop, paying sales taxes is part of the process. It makes a lot more sense to pay them here rather than out of town because sales taxes generated here help support city services where we live rather than where other people call home.
Please, shop at home this Christmas season.