“Shop local” is a common phrase that people know means to shop at local stores. But while common it’s not grammatically correct. The correct phrase would be “shop locally.” The adverb “locally” modifies the verb “shop” by describing how to shop.

Regardless (not irregardless), grammar nerd or not you can shop local(ly) this Black Friday and Small Business Saturday.

As an antithesis to Black Friday, Small Business Saturday (shop small?) is an annual event held on the Saturday after Thanksgiving to encourage consumers to support local, independent businesses. 

Founded by American Express in 2010, the day promotes community and local economic growth by directing holiday spending toward small businesses, with an estimated $22 billion spent at independent retailers in 2024.

With hardly any big box stores in Sullivan County, we are made up of “mom and pop” shops, many of whom are offering deals this weekend. 

Spending money in your community keeps those dollars right here, and supports our neighbors and friends. There are thousands of Sullivan County residents employed at these stores from Roscoe to Wurtsboro, from Neversink to Callicoon. Our Main Streets will only remain vibrant and have open storefronts if we patronize them first.

We implore you to minimize (or cancel) your use of Amazon. Even if you leave holiday shopping to the last minute, many local stores stay open in the days leading up to the holidays.

So this weekend shop local(ly), shop small(ly) and support the business owners who work hard to keep their doors open year-round.