Shop Local for All Your Holiday Gift Giving!

According to the National Retail Federation, consumers in the U.S. will spend an average of $923.36 each this year for holiday related purchases.  Chamber director Tish Williams points out that as of July 2007, there were an estimated 38,000 residents in Hancock County. 

“If each person in the county makes a commitment to shop only locally,” Williams said,  “it could give a boost of over $35 million dollars to our economy in the next few months!  City and county budgets would benefit as well.  That’s quite a community stocking stuffer!”

The “Holiday at Home” campaign will include a series of full-length photo features that detail various residents’ shopping sprees with local proprietors.  The Chamber’s mission is to highlight at least one item from each member retail or food establishment. The Seacoast Echo has generously offered to run the series of nine articles with photographs, one per issue for the next five weeks.  The features and photos will also be posted prominently on the Chamber website.

A festive logo created by graphic designer Jenny Bell gives visual punch to the campaign.  The winter wonderland design coordinates with “Snowflakes in the Bay,” a new county-wide lighting attraction promoted by the Hancock County Tourism Development Bureau.  The Chamber will use the new logo to help showcase various holiday happenings around Hancock County.  The events calendars will be distributed throughout the region. 

Wendy McDonald, one of the volunteer shoppers for “Holiday at Home” has already made her commitment to spend only in Hancock County.  “If we don’t have it here, they don’t get it,” she declared laughing. 

Wendy McDonald scouts out some treasures at the Diamondhead Pharmacy.

For more information on the campaign, or if you are a Chamber member and would like to have your business promotion listed on the holiday calendar, contact Latonja Ervin at the Chamber office, 228.467.9048.  Go on line to view the listing of Holiday Happenings throughout Hancock County at local area businesses - and remember to shop local!

This Shop Local Campaign is made possible through a grant from the Build Back the Coast Fund of the Gulf Coast Community Foundation, administered by the Hancock Community Development Foundation in cooperation with the Hancock Chamber with support from the Old Town Merchants Association, the Depot District Association, the Village Merchants at Hancock Square, the Waveland Community Coalition, the Diamondhead Business & Professional Association, and the Sea Coast Echo. For a complete listing of Hancock Chamber member businesses directory on this website.

 Below are a few finds our shoppers have scouted out.  Check back here often – we’ll be adding two new articles a week throughout the holiday season!

Bay Books on Main Street in Old Town has books that will spark the interest of just about anyone

"Bleu," on the corner of Blaize Ave. and Sycamore Street,  offers a large array of contemporary holiday designs and accessories.

Revive yourself during shopping expeditions  with treats from "Sweet Thangs" in Depot Row.

Cathy Benvenutti say's that "it's time to shop local!" Maggie May's on Main Street in Old Town carries a large selection of specialty clocks.