WAUSAU, WI (WSAU) — Doing your holiday shopping locally is one of the best ways to help boost the local economy, and Wausau is no different.
Executive Director of the Wausau River District, Elizabeth Field, explains why.
“Shopping locally keeps more money in the local economy than does shopping at the big box stores or Internet sales,” said Field. “Basically, about 60% of all money spent at local businesses stays in the community whereas only 40% at big box stores and 0% actually on Internet sales.”
Field says you can also interact with business owners while shopping locally compared to just a sales associate at a big box store.
She also wants people to know that they can even shop locally in Wausau at night.
Field said, “A lot of people in their head sometimes think like ‘Oh, downtown shuts off after dark,’ and that’s actually not true. We have it all lit up and stores are open. It’s a wonderful atmosphere just to come and explore, do some shopping, and you can definitely dine. It’s going to be a great experience and a wonderful holiday season.”
The Wausau Center will feature Santa Claus this year as part of the holiday season. St. Nick is expected to be hanging around the mall through Christmas.