Think local when shopping for Christmas

Retailers welcomed the end-of-year sales surge over the weekend, as the holiday shopping season kicked off with a bang on Friday.

Bargain-hungry shoppers took to malls and department stores in the traditional post-Thanksgiving gift-buying frenzy that has become the figurative ringing in of the Christmas season.

It is not known yet how local retailers fared over the weekend, but nationwide reports show volume of sales to be noticeably better than last year's. This bodes well for the accuracy of rosy forecasts issued by economists, who believe consumer confidence and other indicators will translate to an increase in holiday receipts for retailers.

As Valley residents compile their gift lists and plan shopping trips, we hope that they keep local retailers in mind. One of the benefits of the growth we've witnessed in recent years is the availability of goods and services. Fewer and fewer items require a trip to Anchorage these days, as a bevy of specialty shops, boutiques and big-city-type retail outlets have sprung up right here in our community.

Local shopping keeps us closer to home. It saves gas and time - two things that can combine to erase comparative savings on similar items in Anchorage. Gas savings means more money for other things. Time saved on the road and fighting crowds in Anchorage means more time for family, friends and the things that matter most. And who can't use that around the holidays?

Shopping the Valley also strengthens the job opportunities of fellow community members who are employed locally, or who would like to be. Of perhaps greatest benefit, though, is the overall economic power of shopping the Valley.

Chamber of Commerce officials are fond of pointing out that a dollar spent locally has the potential to change hands seven times. We may not notice the actual exchange of dollars, and the effect of those exchanges may not be obvious, but they provide an economic shot in the arm.

The boost that comes from local shopping benefits everyone. From a better job market to an expanded tax base, a robust business environment enriches the community and encourages more of the same. As holiday shopping trips are planned, we hope Valley residents will weigh the direct and indirect costs of making the trip down the Glenn with the many benefits that come from shopping locally.