It seems like everything can be done online, Banking, School and, of course, shopping. But clicking your way through your Christmas wish list can actually be a drain on our local economy.
It's the most wonderful time of the year.
Nicole Askew of Fargo says, "Around the Christmas season, it's really hard to find some time."
And also the busiest. That's why Askew and others go from that stores to the computer.
"I kind of just like shopping online and just like looking through the clothes if I don't have a lot of time," says Askew.
But others like Jenna Oestrich...
"More in the stores than online, just so I can see what I'm getting," says Oestrich.
And that's exactly what The Chamber likes to hear.
CEO and President of the FM Chamber, Craig Whitney, says, "Dollars spent there are dollars for the local community."
During the hustle and bustle of the holidays, it's convenient to shop online, but The Chamber is trying to push people back to the stores in the FM area.
But if you need your e-shopping fix, there are ways you can shop locally online.
Whitney says, "You might be surprised that some of our local stores have online ways to shop."
Stores like C. Lizzy's in Downtown Fargo have that. The Chamber says shopping at big box store web sites drive dollars out of our community, but shopping local can boost our economy, and bring more great mom and pop stores in.
"Wanted an infinity scarf and it was the cutest that they had," says Askew.
And because it was bought local, The Chamber thinks it's a cute scarf, too.
In the upcoming year, congress will be discussing putting an extra tax on online shopping to help drive sales back to the stores.
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