SOUTHAVEN, MS - Shoppers in DeSoto County are packing the stores looking for the best bargains. The Southaven Chamber of Commerce wants to make sure you stay there to shop.
It also want people to consider checking out the smaller stores as well.
A lot of people pack the "Big Box" stores on Black Friday. You may not think of the smaller boutique stores, but the Chamber wants people to think local.
Candice Fry owns the shop “Sassy & Chic.”
"I think they try to get all the bigger deals and not really think we'll have specials and free gift wrapping," she said.
Ginger Adams is the Executive Director of the Southaven Chamber of Commerce.
"By supporting our local businesses,” Adams said. “For every dollar you spend, approximately $8 goes back into your community."
Adams says shopping at locally-owned stores is ideal. She admits on days like this shoppers have other plans.
"I think at 3am,” she said. “People are thinking Wal-Mart and Best Buy."
There weren't always so many local businesses to support.
"The Towne Center has only been here for four years,” Adams said. “Five years ago, we in De Soto County had to go to Memphis. We had no options."
With huge shopping centers all over this place, Adams wants people to forget those days. Shoppers like Kenneth Bell says folks already have.
"Oh yeah, most definitely,” Bell said. “Just take a look at the car tags around here. You also see a lot of people from Memphis coming down here, because there are better deals down here, plus you don't have to pay that extra tax."
The lower sales tax was one reason Memphian Jessica Lindsey crossed the state line and came here. She also says it’s nice to not have to drive all over the city.”
"I can go from one place to the next and actually walk to it,” Lindsey said. “So this is a great advantage. That's the reason why I also came this way."
After all the door buster deals have passed, Adams hopes people check out the smaller stores as well.
“It's up to us to support our community," said Adams.
Smaller store owners say, if people don't shop local and support these smaller stores, then they won't be here much longer.
Ginger Adams says, despite the struggling economy, several stores-big and small-opened up recently, just in time for the holiday rush.
