Shopping in big box stores and online retailers can be tempting for convenience and selection, but make sure you challenge yourself to use those holiday spending dollars to support your local economy as well. With the passage of internet use taxes at the city, state, and county level in 2022, your sales tax dollars benefit our local community whether you shop online or in person.
But buying local still makes a big difference in our community.
A study from the New Economics Foundation found that when comparing similar purchases, buying from small businesses put twice as much money into the local community as a purchase from a large chain store. In addition to supporting the economy, buying local allows you to find unique, special items and reduce the environmental impacts involved in shipping a product to your home. Not sure where to start? Start by checking out the Columbia Chamber of Commerce’s online directory listing of Chamber member retailers at columbiamochamber.com.
The Columbia Convention & Visitors Bureau website (visitcolumbiamo.com) has listings of great places to shop locally in Columbia. And it’s never a bad idea to go window shopping on the streets of The District or visit the holiday makers markets on The Loop.
Don’t forget to check out our great local restaurants, whether it is to take care of dinner or grab an easy gift during this hectic time. Stop by some of our favorites to help with a meal or side that will be sure to impress at your family get-together. When you need to take care of dinner make sure you stop by our local made-from-scratch Italian restaurant for a yummy grab-and-go gift or keep it for yourself when you’re tired of the endless turkey and ham.
If you’re still craving some holiday goodies, have some of our caterers and delis take care of your holiday meal and savor the moments of the holidays. If you’re looking for something to make the holiday memorable check out local butchers and farmers markets to take your charcuterie up a notch with specialty local favorites. For your sweet tooth make sure to grab a showstopper cake at our local bakeries.
If you still need a hostess gift, stop by one of our many local breweries, distilleries, and wineries to make you the perfect guest. These are also perfect venues for your business holiday party alongside many other event spaces. Make sure you book them now before you miss out and get stuck in your bleak breakroom.
Struggling to find a gift for the person on your list who has everything? Consider donating in their honor to a charity with special significance. CoMoGives, a project of the Community Foundation of Central Missouri, is an annual online fundraiser that rounds up more than 100 nonprofits in Columbia and mid-Missouri and makes it easy to donate to as many organizations as you’d like in one place. Learn more and make a donation at comogives.com.
Matt McCormick is the president and CEO of the Columbia Chamber of Commerce.
