Love big this holiday season, and shop small in West Calcasieu. Making a concerted effort to purchase from a small locally owned business has never been more important than it is now.

“Our local businesses support our community in so many ways,” said Mandy Thomas, Sulphur City Council member, FNBD manager and West Cal Chamber member. “Picking up a few items to ring in the season, buying a cup of coffee to power through the day, making a purchase to wrap up and put under the tree has more impact on local businesses and the economy than some shoppers might realize.”

 U.S. small businesses make up 99.9 percent of businesses, and 100 percent of them have been through the ringer this year. Some closed due to the fallout of the pandemic and never reopened. Southwest La. business owners were further bullied by circumstances out of their control. Two hurricanes, an ice storm and flood, all naturally declared disasters, damaged and destroyed buildings, revenue and foot traffic.

This isn’t the same situation that was going on when American Express began its Small Business Saturday movement 20 years ago, urging shoppers to shop locally the Saturday after Thanksgiving. At that time, the country was coming out of a recession, but times are certainly similar and especially in Southwest Louisiana.

This year, in Vinton, Westlake and Sulphur, the West Cal Chamber of Commerce are unanimously promoting #westcalwishlist2021. Just go to social media, punch in the hashtag and find out about where to get flowers, soap, décor, artwork, jewelry, and gifts galore, locally.