Infomedia is a web service company that builds, updates, hosts and maintains websites for our clients — many of whom are small, local businesses that have been impacted by COVID. Our local businesses need a great holiday season this year in order to make it to 2021, and by shopping local, you can help. In this episode, our host Carrie Rollwagen takes a break from website questions to give some great tips on how to buy local this holiday season. Carrie is also the host of the Localist podcast, which is geared toward business owners and people who want to buy local. We combined Carrie’s business savvy with Infomedia’s web development skills to create a Birmingham-based shopping directory called The Local List. It features our favorite shops in Birmingham and its surrounding areas and covers details like COVID policies, holiday hours, gift wrap options, curbside availability, local delivery and more.
In addition to using The Local List directory, you can follow Carrie’s top tips for buying local to organize and save time:
- Make a list (and check it twice). Be clear on who you’re buying for and where you can find something for them.
- Try to shop by community to save time. If you know of a specific store you need to visit to buy a gift, it’s a great idea to check out other shops in the area where you can find gifts for other people on your list. If you use The Local List, you can search by neighborhood to make a plan before you go. Carrie also recommends eating at a nearby restaurant or grabbing a drink at a coffee shop close by. By combining trips, you can save gas, only have to worry about parking once, and make a day out of it!
- Take advantage of what local shops have to offer that big box stores may not. Many local shops offer gift wrapping, and shop owners and associates are knowledgeable about what they’re selling. If you’re not quite sure what to buy for someone, tell the shop owner about what that person likes. They will have genuine recommendations for you, which is something an algorithm just can’t do.
- Don’t stress about buying all local. The best way to be a localist is to be local-ish! Buy local when you can, or supplement your list with local purchases where it makes sense.
With these great tips and The Local List, you’ve got your bases covered for holiday shopping this year. And if you’re a business owner in Birmingham who wants to get on The Local List, you can add your business using the button at the top of the directory.
Happy Holidays from all of us at One Quick Question — we’re taking December off to wrap up our work and spend time with our families, but we’ll be back in 2021 to answer more of your questions about the web!
Mentioned in this Episode:
Carrie Rollwagen