Why should you do your Christmas shopping in Mount Forest?
First and foremost, when you spend your money here more of it stays in Mount Forest and you are supporting the local businesses that tirelessly support this community in so many ways. Local sports teams and cultural events are sponsored by local businesses. Door prizes and items in the silent auctions and on the penny tables at bazaars and community events are donated by local businesses. Friday evening’s spectacular Santa Claus parade happened because of our local Lions Club and local businesses and organizations who got behind it and supported it, the same as they do every year.
You will be amazed at what you can find right here at home, at comparable prices to the big box stores in neighbouring communities. Our local merchants are ordering in extra stock, decorating their windows and participating in local promotions. See the Chamber of Commerce story, which begins on the front page this week, as well as the full-page ad outlining the special shopping weekends being organized with you in mind.  Dec. 8, 9 and 10 is a “Weekend for the Ladies” while Dec. 16 and 17 are “Dedicated to the Guys.” And, watch for your Local Shopping Guide brought to you by the Mount Forest Confederate and the Arthur Enterprise News, being delivered this weekend with The Independent Plus. “Try us first” is what the local businesses are saying and it’s a great idea.
Christmas shopping doesn’t have to be hectic chore… driving to the mall, fighting for a parking spot and then fighting the crowds in the big impersonal stores. Instead stroll through the downtown, drop in and greet your friends and neighbors who own and/or work at local stores. They will give you personalized service – for example the sales clerk could very well know the perfume your wife or girlfriend tried recently, the types of tools your husband or boyfriend has been looking at, the size of clothing your wife wears or what’s on her wish list when it comes to jewellery.
It’s also good to look outside the box when it comes to Christmas gifts. How about a gift certificate for pampering at one of our local spas, a gym membership, a voucher for housecleaning or grass cutting or snow removal, or even a tree to plant in the front yard come spring?  You can give the gift of travel, a gift basket filled with foodstuffs or cosmetics, vouchers for movie rentals along with popcorn, a make-your-own pizza kit. The possibilities are as endless as your imagination.
By supporting our local businesses, we are ensuring that our downtown remains vibrant and the stores remain open. Empty storefronts paint a discouraging picture for anyone looking to establish a business and every new business brings with it opportunities – someone who might buy the vacant house in your neighbourhood, a new member for the service club, a couple of little kids your teenager can babysit, a nice family that might join your church. Every business that closes means the loss of these same things, something we cannot afford. When you buy local, we all win.
And please remember a gift certificate to The Confederate is a gift that will be delivered to the recipient’s door each and every week throughout the year to come. Call 519-323-1550 or drop into our office to purchase a subscription at our special Christmas discount rates.
Thanks for shopping local.