WHILE ENJOYING SOME HOLIDAY CHEER!
By Liz Gunn || I have a confession. I am a bonafide Amazon addict. They should feature me in a testimonial ad -I love it so much.
I am an Amazon Prime Member. I live-stream movies and music. I borrow books from the Kindle lending library. I participate in Subscribe and Save every month. I can’t say enough good things about Amazon.
What makes me feel bad about this addiction? I have always been a champion of spending money locally. I feel very strongly about supporting small businesses and restaurants that I love, because if I don’t – I fear they will go away. Plus, when you support small businesses it feels a little bit like supporting the American dream.
I love that my neighborhood has such a neat little shopping and dining district. There are a wide variety of merchants, from affordable gift shops to high end couture. As for where to dine, there is a little something for everyone; Italian, Mediterranean, Mexican, burgers, pizza and more. There are plenty of bars and lounges to choose from, as well.
There are also salons, a gym, cycle studio, a bakery, law firms, children’s boutiques, an art gallery…the list goes on and on. I feel fortunate to have all of this within a stone’s throw of my home – but if we don’t support them every chance we get, they can’t survive. I’ve seen so many come and go over that last ten years, with the rise of on-line shopping.
Someone made a very good point the other day. When the non-profit board or PTA you serve on needs an item for a fundraiser or silent auction, who do you ask? Small, local businesses. I have always found that when you support them, they support you back! Just food for thought.
Tonight is a good opportunity for those of you in downtown Columbia to get out and do your part to support your friends and neighbors who keep these businesses up and running. “Devine Night Out” begins at 5 p.m. and boasts tons of specials and holiday cheer until 8 p.m. Most businesses will have food, entertainment and door prizes. Santa Clause will be making an appearance at Britton’s – so you better be on your best behavior!
From 8-10 p.m. there will be a FREE after-party at Henry’s Restaurant and Bar. They’ll have live music and complimentary food and beverages. If you live downtown, it’s unlikely that you won’t run into a friend or neighbor tonight. I’ll be there stimulating the local economy, and I hope you will be, too!
UPDATE: If you’re in the Lowcountry, check out King Street Holiday Shop & Stroll tomorrow night in downtown Charleston. In the Upstate, check out Greenville Downtown Holiday Happening, also beginning tonight, showcasing local retailers and restaurants. If you live near the Grand Strand, check out Rivertown Christmas tonight, as well as next Thursday night, in Conway, S.C. for Christmas carols, carriage rides and shopping.
LIZ GUNN is a wife, mom, travel enthusiast, food snob, daydreamer and lifelong Gamecock fan. A graduate of the University of South Carolina, she lives in Columbia, S.C. with her husband and daughter.
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24 comments
Here’s “food for thought”: the prices many of these local businesses charge has increased (I’m looking at you Forest Acres) significantly through the years, while SC incomes are stagnant, if not slightly declining. I understand commodity prices are partly to blame and that those prices are passed on to consumers; but there is a difference between something being overpriced and something being expensive, and a lot of the goods sold in many of these local businesses are just overpriced. The bottom line is the bottom line, and I’d rather be able to pay my outrageous SCE&G bill than shop at local businesses on Divine Street or Forest Acres just to be seen doing so.
I was in Charleston a while ago and picked up a little flyer that advertised “great Christmas gift ideas” and featured items from small businesses. A lot of is was stuff you could easily find elsewhere at half the price or less.
Small business owners, if you’re going to charge me an arm and a leg, then find something unique to offer me. Easier said than done I suppose, but if you’re selling the same crap everyone else is selling, but with an insane mark up, sorry, I’m not biting.
My ex-wife who is fluent in six languages asked if I learned any Spanish while I was in Miami a few months ago. No, but I did pick up a little Cuban. I forgot that she has no sense of humor!
Well the truth is, in retail, value/ price are 2 different things. If at least some people are willing to pay $500 for a skirt, they will continue to sell $500 skirts.
As for FA specifically, high end retailers are locating there bc it’s the highest income zip code in Columbia, according to market research. So it makes sense for more expensive stores to be there.
Actually, according to this article, the truth is, “…I feel fortunate to have all of this within a stone’s throw of my home-but if we don’t support them every chance we get, they can’t survive. I’ve seen so many come and go over the last ten years, with the rise of on-line shopping.” Looks like less and less people are willing to pay for that $500 skirt you mentioned.
People are still buying – just doing more of it on-line.
Generally, if I can’t touch it first then I don’t buy.
Well yeah- especially if I’m going to spend more than say $100 on an article of clothing…I’d want to try it on, feel the fabric, etc.
Anecdotal: Guy takes over running Macy’s, discovers prime, wooly sweaters stacked in the discount basement. Orders them up stairs, triples the price … The wooly sweaters sell out promptly.
Price, cost, value all have different meanings to economists … and shoppers.
Several things to remember when unwrapping those gifts:
– Profits are good. That’s what pays taxes for ordinary g’ment services like fire departments and police. (Shopping in a high end store pays high end property taxes.)
– If the gift buyer happens to spot that nearly perfect gift, don’t be surprised if it could win the Ugliest Christmas Sweater Contest.
– A bargain on line, may be subject to return costs.
– Retailer’s everywhere, down the street and on your smart phone … It’s a tough business. The speciality shops are where it’s at for that very special item for the most loved ones.
On a visit to Baltimore, MD with my girlfriend she took me to a women’s clothing store in her mother’s neighborhood. Bored, I meandered around the store which sold, as an example, many Hermes items. On a rack I saw a very classy dress. Taking a closer look at it, there were ten of the exact dresses on that rack — individual price was $2,500.00 each!
Did you check for stains? Maybe they were Clinton designer originals.
ha-ha, pretty good!
Bingo Liz, I finally found some great common ground with you. Amazon has put me on a first name basis with the mail lady. I love the Prime and all but a few items as far as Christmas shopping goes has been though Amazon. The customer service is great. I bought a quantity of Fire HD/Fire for Kids tablets to give out this year and 10 days later thay ran them on sale. They gave the difference back to me for all of them. Did I mention they have a great selection of Gator gear, especially the jean shorts?
My best friend is a Gator – so I have actually purchased some Gator baby stuff from Amazon…mostly bc I didn’t want to be seen buying it. haha
Do you use Subscribe & Save? I buy all kinds of stuff through that and save 15% off the top each month…stuff I have to buy anyway like shampoo and toothpaste. It’s all kinds of awesome!
No, I have not . I’ll have to check that out.
Those Billibong Jean shorts … Oh you kid!
“… Someone made a very good point the other day. When the non-profit board or PTA you serve on needs an item for a fundraiser or silent auction, who do you ask? Small, local businesses. I have always found that when you support them, they support you back! Just food for thought. …”
That works in the private sector just a well …
(I work with ecommerce online catalog companies all day long, but I shop and buy local, and only when I can’t find it locally do I go to Amazon, et al.)
Wouldn’t it be easier to just cut and paste from here: http://www.theshoptart.com/
Wouldn’t it be easier to just go fuck yourself?
“Santa Clause?”
I almost always shop online,except for most food,and used to feel guilty about it.Many small businesses have become 3rd party sellers on Amazon and elsewhere,or have a website which is very easy to do.One of the biggest problems online businesses have now,are those who depend on international sales.A favorite online shop folded this year,due to the outrageous increases for international shipping,and since they always have what I want,I feel an obligation to them,too.
If you want to buy stuff from small, local businesses, go ahead, particularly when the businesses offer the best combination of price, quality, and convenience for your situation. On the other hand, when Wal Mart, Home Depot, or Dillards offers you the best combination of price, quality, and convenience for your situation and you want to deal with one or all of them, go ahead, buy, without a trace of guilt. Why would anyone enter voluntarily into an inferior business transaction?
More like move to the Amazon
You have to go to Belks for the cook in your life. Everything is way down in price. I bought a nice Wolfgang Puck stainless steel oven (tabletop) with pressure cooking ability for 211.00, yesterday, down from about 399.00. KichenAid & Cuisinart also discounted.
I shop everywhere. I like to seek out the unusual or different. Why have what others have?