Shopping locally important for businesses, government

The dishes will hardly be washed before pre-Black Friday sales begin on Thursday.

So-called because the holiday shopping season is typically the time at which retailers’ bottom lines move from “red” to “black,” or profitable, the event that has nearly eclipsed Thanksgiving is a reminder that local merchants need local support.

“If we were to measure it on a scale of Alpha to Omega, it would be Omega times three,” Andalusia Mayor Earl Johnson said.

“Our local merchants work hard all year to support our community, and provide goods and services to our citizens,” he said. “In a way, quite frankly, they open six months of the year to make a living in this season.”

“If we don’t support them in this season, they can’t be successful enough to stay open and support us in other times of the year when sales are not so brisk,” he said.

“Supporting the local economy is always important, but especially so during the holiday season.”