5 Reasons To Shop Local

When it's time to make a list and check it twice, online shopping and big box stores offer a convenient way to play Santa.

But predicted shipping delays, concerns about crowded stores, and shipping fees for delivery and returns may make these convenient options less appealing this year.

Fortunately, shopping at small local businesses can solve these problems -- while offering you more original gifts, a safer shopping experience, and the joy of giving back to your community.

With the holiday season right around the corner, here are five reasons to shop small this year.

1. Health and safety concerns

Shopping local doesn't necessarily mean you have to go inside the store. Smaller retailers are increasingly offering online shopping options1 -- often with curbside pickup.

With local curbside pickup, you get all the benefits of online shopping without having to worry about packages being delays, lost, or stolen.

If you prefer to shop in-person, smaller, locally-owned stores tend to be far less crowded than big box stores and may be taking more safety precautions. Worried about the safety of paying for your items? From tap-to-pay debit cards to mobile wallets, retailers are increasingly moving toward some form of contactless payment system.

2. Prompt and reliable access to merchandise

With holiday online shopping forecast to increase 25% to 35%2 compared to 2019, experts are predicting shipping delays for the holiday season.3 The Wall Street Journal reports that the 2020 holiday shipping capacity of UPS and FedEx is mostly already spoken for,4 leaving little wiggle room in the system for a shopping surge.

In other words, demand for shipping in the months before the holidays is expected to outstrip supply -- leading to the potential for late arrival of packages.

When you shop locally, you get prompt and reliable access to your merchandise quickly -- either through shopping in-person or shopping online and doing curbside pickup.

3. Save on delivery and return costs

Given the forecasted holiday shipping crunch and a corresponding bump up in delivery fees to retailers, don't be surprised if you see an uptick in shipping costs at some online stores this holiday season. And if you don't manage to snag free shipping, this hidden cost of online shopping can really add up. If you have to pay for return shipping, costs can go even higher. By shopping locally, you avoid delivery and return costs.

4. Help keep your local retailers thriving

It's no secret that many local retailers are struggling. Many small businesses were already financially fragile before the pandemic started. By late March 2020, just a few weeks into the pandemic, the average small businesses with more than $10,000 in monthly expenses reported having just two weeks of cash on hand.5

Shopping at local-owned businesses is a great way to support your community. Spending at least some of your holiday money locally helps to keep these beloved community stores open for the long haul.

Shopping local doesn't just benefit your local store owners and employees -- it benefits the whole community. That's because of what's called the "multiplier effect," which means that the money you spend locally stays in the community. In fact, one study found 48% of the amount of a local purchase gets recirculated nearby6 compared to 14% of the purchase price of an item bought in a chain store -- and even less with online shopping.

5. Shopping local can be more fun

While this holiday season is sure to be unlike any others, you can bring some of the magic alive by heading to your local stores. Instead of spending even more time staring at the computer screen, browse local boutiques and enjoy the twinkling lights. And with local business owners spending months carefully curating a line of creative holiday gifts, you're sure to find more interesting decorations and presents than at a big box retailer.

Top off your shopping adventure with to-go cup of peppermint hot cocoa to go from the corner cafe before heading home to put on some carols and wrap your presents.

If you'd like to get more information on our credit or debit cards, stop by a local branch or give us a call at 1-888-SYNOVUS (1-888-796-6887). We're happy to help as you enjoy the season.