Mayor Walt Cobb, city hall, the Williams Lake and District Chamber of Commerce, the Williams Lake Central Business Improvement Area and all those who make a living selling goods and products in our city empathetically urge citizens to shop local for the Christmas season.
We have a pretty good selection of merchandise and services in this city, however, there are just some things you can’t buy.
So, you shop wherever you can to buy the product at a reasonable price.
The biggest problem now is quite a few people shop online on places like Amazon.
Williams Lake is not the only community facing the problem of shopping on the Internet.
So, what can you do as a business person in Williams Lake to attract customers into your establishment rather than have them shopping by pecking on their keyboards?
I believe customer service, keeping your products well displayed and making your customers feel good about their buying experience is a big key to having people shop at home.
Canadian Tire owner Jim Anderson has made some excellent renovations to his store which includes interesting log work done by Pioneer Log Homes and The Brick has moved into the mall, while City Furniture from Quesnel has moved into their old location.
You, of course, know this but I believe that change in the right direction is an attractant.
By shopping in town you keep jobs in Williams Lake and help stores stay open for business.
The more businesses that remain open the more chance we have for our community to attract newcomers because more folks will move to an area that looks, and is, progressive.
I believe locally-owned businesses generate a premium in enhanced economic impacts to the community and to our tax base.
The local business community is hit, big time, every year for donations. Many of these businesses dig deep into their pockets to give to hard-working service clubs and organizations who also make our community a better place to live.
It is easy to shop online, folks, but I doubt shopping at Amazon has created many benefits for our city.
Take some time this Christmas season to shop local. Your community will love you for it.
Ken Wilson is a freelance columnist with the Tribune/Advisor.