Pekin area business leaders and advocates often talk about supporting small businesses by shopping local during the holidays. After all, revenue from holiday sales can make or break a retailer.

But you can be sure local merchants are thinking about how to keep shoppers engaged all year long. When it comes into sharper focus here, during the holiday season, it becomes even more urgent that the message is loud and clear.

No one can deny that national franchises have replaced many “mom and pop businesses” that once thrived on local commerce. The hustle and bustle of downtown shopping may be gone forever, but even a glimmer of the past is enough to make a difference in our local economy.

Our Pekin Chamber of Commerce is the leading advocate for all local businesses, large and small. All critical to keeping our economy strong. As a partner in Shop Local 365, a multi-city initiative, the Chamber aims to educate local businesses and consumers about why shopping in your own back yard is so important. At the same 

time, Shop Local 365 urges merchants to encourage shoppers with promotions, extended hours and other incentives designed to keep it local.

So, what’s the big deal about choosing home grown shops and restaurants over national chains and online shopping? It sure is easier to fill an Amazon or Wayfair shopping cart and wait for your purchases to be delivered to your doorstep. But easier doesn’t automatically make it better, especially when the dollars for online purchases leave the community.

When dollars stay in local hands, local people and institutions benefit. According to Shop Local 365, if $1 million enters the local economy and circulates 10 times among local businesses and entities, the impact can be as much as $10 million. On the other hand, money stops circulating locally as soon as an outside purchase is made.

The more times a dollar makes the rounds here in Pekin, the more your neighbors and friends will benefit from it. This works whether the purchase is made in person or from a local online for local pick-up.

The positive impact shows up in support for local jobs, and sales tax for police and fire protection, schools, parks, and other city services. It’s hard to argue against supporting these essential services that make our community strong.

There are other less tangible but equally important benefits. Shopping local reduces your carbon footprint by minimizing the driving it takes to find gifts for everyone on your shopping list. Walk between shops in downtown Pekin instead of driving elsewhere.

Local shops often deliver a level of customer service that many feel has all but disappeared from the larger retail landscape and is almost nonexistent online. Our shop owners, restaurateurs, artists, and sellers of all kinds are more accessible to their customers. Their survival depends on it.

Local expertise is invaluable. Shopping local supports craftspeople and artisans who make one-of-a-kind merchandise that you simply can’t find anywhere else. These unique items may be exactly what you’re looking for, but you’ll never know until you put away the shopping app and make your way to that local store’s front door.

When all is said and done, bucking consumer trends, and patronizing local merchants shows pride in the community you call home. If we don’t respect and support local entrepreneurs, who will?

We all know about Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving. The name reflects the belief of retail giants like Walmart and Target must have exceptionally high revenue during the first 24 hours after Thanksgiving to stay in the black for the year. Cyber Monday has now joined the line-up of must-shop day. Millions of dollars are poured into advertising and promotion between Thanksgiving and the end of the year with a goal of extracting as many dollars from local pockets as possible.

American Express meant to knock Black Friday down from its lofty perch when it started Small Business Saturday in 2010. One year later, the Small Business Administration (SBA) became a co-sponsor and the two have worked closely ever since.

An estimated $17.9 billion was spent on Small Business Saturday last year. If even a tiny sliver of that stayed in Pekin, the impact would be amazing. Shoppers should watch for special promotions, incentives, and extended hours at local merchants on November 29.

Shopping local takes planning and a willingness to break old habits. You will thank yourself when the hardware store or gift shop or restaurant is still open six months from now. The business owner and the rest of your community will thank you, too.

The Shop Local 365 website at www.shoplocal365.co is packed with ideas and free resources to help businesses help themselves to a bigger share of the local shopping pie. And there is more to learn about Small Business Saturday at www.sba.gov/about-sba/organization/sba-initiatives/small-business-saturday.