Shop Small: The Benefits of Shopping Local - Lake Chelan Chamber of Commerce

The holidays are here and with them the never ending lists of groceries, gifts, and gadgets needed to make the magic of the season possible. While it may be tempting to lean on online shopping, there are so many great reasons to shop local this year.

1. Keep Dollars in Our Community

When you spend money at the local boutiques, your tax dollars are reinvested right into the Chelan and Manson communities. This means that taxes paid as part of your purchase go directly toward our libraries, schools, and infrastructure.

2. One-of-a-kind gift options

If unique is what you are after then shopping small is the solution. Most boutiques hand select their inventory from independent vendors, meaning many of the products that you find within our downtown shops are available at only a small number of places. This allows you to truly tailor your gift buying to each person in your life knowing they won’t receive anything else like it.

3. Supports local families

When you make a purchase at a local shop, you are directly contributing towards the well-being of a local business owner and their family. Additionally, your purchase supports wages for employees and business operating costs, keeping the local economy alive and well.

4. Promotes community connection

Small town charm is alive and well here, especially during the holiday season! Taking a stroll through the valley’s shops and businesses promotes community connection that you just can’t get from behind a computer screen. Here you can meet with friends, get updates from business owners, and generally catch up with the local scene.

5. Lowers environmental impact

When you shop local, you cut down on environmentally damaging emissions from shipping, freight, and excess packaging. It’s a win-win!

Put a smile on a local business owner’s face this year and shop local! With everything from fashion to hardware to toys in historic downtown Chelan and more than 30 wineries across the valley, there are gift options tailored to each person on your list.