Strong message to shop local for final holiday push

With less than one week until Christmas, retailers expect the last full weekend of shopping to be very busy.

But some local independent retailers say they would like to be busier.

Over the past couple of years there was a push to shop local, and they would like to see that return.

According to a Professor at the University of Toronto, there are a lot of factors that are causing people to spend less this year such as “increasing interest rates and inflation”.

Local retailers do have an opportunity to stand out, and take in a piece of the pie according to the Hamilton Chambers of Commerce.

The Chamber also says when you shop local, more of that money stays in the community.

The Hamilton Chambers of commerce says another reason to shop local is because it’s an experience and it offers free parking.

There are also many areas around Hamilton where you can park for free for up to two hours.

Sean Cowan has the story.