Shop Orange County first

Walmart is never "not busy."
Though superstores and discount retailers are generally mandatory stops on any successful shopping trips, the unique boutique shops of Orange County can offer local holiday shoppers something the big stores can't.
"One of the main things I find in shopping in Orange County is the variety of things you don't see in every other store," Orange County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Barbara Bannar said. "Each of the stores has such unique, original gifts and wonderful personal service."
One benefit the big box stores have over local merchants is that those stores combine many different options in one place.
But holiday shoppers can find similar variety and get a little exercise at the same time by walking the streets of downtown Orange and Gordonsville. And short trips to the country can yield enticing shopping options as well.
"You don't have all the crowds and you don't have to fight the traffic," Bannar said of shopping locally. "It's a relaxed way to actually enjoy shopping."
It's easy to walk into a department store and get something someone may like. But shopping locally fosters more creativity among gift giving.
And while personal service, individual attention and locally crafted work are three benefits of shopping locally; perhaps the greatest benefit is that it supports our community.
"The county receives $.01 off of every dollar spent shopping in Orange County," Bannar said. "Shopping locally helps keep the local tax base growing and creates jobs for the county. There are lots of reasons to support local shopping."
This holiday season, we encourage our readers to support their local businesses first for holiday shopping. Even if something seems to cost more here, think about the value of the time wasted standing in line or the cost of gas to get to and around Fredericksburg, Charlottesville and Culpeper. Not to mention the primal mentality that overtakes holiday shoppers when more than one car is vying for a parking space.
This holiday season, give your car and your blood pressure a break. Take a stroll through Orange and Gordonsville, or a short trip into the countyside and discover some personal and unique gifts for friends and family. Shop Orange County first.