Shopping at home is a fun, friendly way to buy your gifts

Kathleen Hyde, the creative mind behind the great Bearweare store in Sandpoint, was all smiles the other day.

She was talking about the tremendous success of the Santa-Point, Idaho-ho-ho, proclamation and postcard promotion she helped guide.

"It's ideas like this that separate fun, local towns from the rest," she said.

She had just finished her Christmas shopping and she was telling everyone who would listen that she filled her personal request list with 100 percent local goods.

It's amazing what this notch of North Idaho has anymore. It wasn't so long ago that as Christmas got closer the number of vehicles heading south over the Long Bridge to go shopping got longer.

All a person has to do is walk around in Ponderay and Sandpoint to feel the retail vibrancy that is missing from most towns.

The Bonner Mall is a hub of activity and is busier than it ever has been before; downtown Sandpoint is alive with white lights and more stores than ever.

While it is important to separate the gift giving and shopping portion of Christmas from the real reason we recognize this holiday, this local paper would be remiss if we didn't raise up the numerous advantages of shopping locally.

This is the time of year where a majority of local businesses make it. These are the same businesses our neighbors own or are employed by. These are the same businesses we ask for donations for the numerous causes we all support.

Look around and you will find Sandpoint Furniture and Belwood's on most donation lists. They are usually accompanied by Larson's, Idaho Stone, Merwin's, Coldwater Creek, Sharon's Hallmark, Eve's Leaves. Sandpoint Super Drug and a host of others.

They would appreciate your business this season.

How about the numerous new stores that have popped up? Sandpoint Outfitters, Laughing Dog, Meadowbrook are just a few that come to mind.

This is truly the season of giving and we are going to take an opportunity to spend our hard-earned dollars right here where our paychecks will do the most good.

Read the local paper to find out about the local businesses and support the local economy. That makes sense, right?

Shop at home sounds so simple but it has so many benefits.

David Keyes is publisher of the Bee.