Today we celebrate Valentine’s Day and hopefully you have that perfect gift already purchased and wrapped for your special someone.  If not, fortunately you can pick up just about anything you need right in your local community.

Bob Wilson with the Perry Area Chamber of Commerce encourages residents to “think Perry first”.

“Bacon Jewelers downtown has been in business for I think 60 years, that’s awesome.  Go down there and spend your money there.  That money is going to be returned to our local community through payroll, through taxes, through sponsorships and other donations as well so you’re going to see a return on your dollars spent locally a lot more than you are going to a big box store of if you’re shopping online where virtually no money comes back.  We also have a great florist in town, so let’s buy a bunch of flowers and help support Hartman’s too.  Get there.  Get downtown, put your money where you live and really support this community” says Wilson.

Wilson says it’s important to shop local all the time and not just around holidays.  He says even if you have trouble finding what you need, ask a local merchant.  Chances are they can order it for you or help you find it.