Shopping local during the hectic holiday season

CORBIN, Ky. (WYMT) – Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday all with deals you can take to the bank.

However, Downton Coordinator for the City of Corbin Jacob Roan, said the impacts of shopping local for small communities in southeastern Kentucky cannot be measured during the hectic holiday season.

“These small retail businesses here in Corbin and all across eastern Kentucky really count on people coming downtown and spending their money where it’s going to be reciprocated over and over and over again in your community,” Roan said.

According to Google Trends the question “What does shopping small really mean?” is a top trending search for Small Business Saturday, spiking 5,000%.

Manager for the City of Corbin Scott Williamson said he loves to see people in Downtown Corbin.

“People do seem to be shopping in the smaller family-owned stores that are located many times on our main streets or in our local shopping areas,” Williamson said.

Roan encouraged people to make the trip to small downtowns that might normally be passed by.

“I know that Lexington or Knoxville have everything that you need there. They got a mall,” Roan said. “But do you really want to sit in traffic on Nicholasville road for two hours when you could be traveling from Corbin to Pikeville and see the beautiful scenery and the small towns across eastern Kentucky?”

Williamson said shopping locally is beneficial for communities in the mountains.

“Regionally we believe in that concept. What helps us helps everybody. What helps them helps us,” Williamson said.

He said it brings back memories of the time before big box stores were so popular.

“I mean it sort of reminded me of when I was a kid here. You know you couldn’t find a spot to park on Main street,” Williamson said. “It’s that way again. Not just here, you know towns all around.”

Officials said it keeps money local.

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