Oconee Chamber of Commerce hosts many different community events throughout the year. As the holidays are on the horizon, their next event will be one for the books! Introducing, drum roll please….. Tinsel Town at Hadden Estate! A one stop shop full of holiday cheer, bringing Hallmark to Oconee. The event will be held over two days and consists of many local retail and direct sales businesses. The event comes just in time to get your holiday shopping done right.

I personally have become an online shopping fiend but high shipping costs, slow delivery times, or the idea of a lost or stolen package are just not ideal. Because of those inconveniences, I know that shopping local has so many more benefits than we may even realize. Below are three reasons we encourage you to shop local for the perfect holiday gifts this year!

1. Community Invested.

We may sometimes forget that most of the businesses in your local community are friends, family, or even our neighbors! Local business owners truly care about the communities they are in. In return, they know that the future well-being of the area depends on the successes that occur in the present.

2. YOU.

Businesses within your local community are more apt to listen to your feedback because it is what you find valuable. For instance, shopping small and local can allow businesses to provide what you actually need at the cost you actually want! We all know that the CEOs of large retail store will probably never know that we shopped with them or know us personally.  Shopping local creates relationships that can be so much more impactful.

3. Greater Non-Profit Support.

In Oconee County and the many other counties we serve, there are countless non-profit organizations that are very close to our hearts. Even with different missions for each organization, they all bring immense value to the communities we live in. Therefore, local business owners actually see the needed support to non-profits and understand the importance of their donations. In conclusion, shopping local allows business owners to have the ability to donate and pour back into the special non-profit resources that make our communities special.

As you are making your holiday gift list, remember the impact your purchase has on the community as well as the impact it has on the local businesses owners themselves. It’s a win-win for everyone!

Oconee State Bank is proudly the presenting sponsor for Tinsel Town. Make your way down to the beautiful Hadden Estate November 19 and 20 and start a new holiday tradition with us!