This week's Black Friday sales have the Sarnia-Lambton Chamber of Commerce underscoring the importance of shopping local.
CEO Allan Calvert said people might be inclined to shop online for convenience, but sites like Amazon don't provide any benefit to the community they live in.
"Keep in mind some of these giant outlets do not participate in paying local taxes, for example, or contributing to our community when it comes to some of the social organizations that desperately need help this time of year like the Inn of the Good Shepherd, Rebound and Pathways," said Calvert. "Often we find it's the local retailers that are the ones that typically step up and, if it's not financially supporting some of these organizations, they provide gift items for events like the Rotary charity auction."
Sarnia-Lambton Chamber of Commerce CEO Allan Calvert.
Calvert said small businesses are the backbone of the local economy and they need to be supported more than ever during the pandemic.
"Typically anything that you're shopping for, if you look hard enough you can find it here, if anything, buy gift cards from these retailers."
He noted the plight of small business owners in locked down areas like Toronto is heartbreaking.
"I've been watching some of the national media, especially in the metro Toronto area, where they're interviewing small shop owners and they're absolutely brought to tears and crying in the interview. That is not something we want for our retailers in this town."
Calvert said if money is tight, you can support an area business by giving them a plug on social media.