Harrisonburg business owner talks importance of year-round, small shopping

HARRISONBURG, Va. (WHSV) – Many people intend to shop at local businesses during the holidays, but business owners say smaller shopping should be done year-round.

Irina Dovganetskiy is the owner of withSimplicity cosmetics store in Harrisonburg. She said the holidays are not only a time to see a lot of faces, but also an important financial season.

“The holidays mean a lot to retail,” she said. “This is our last quarter of the year to make up.”

She said the holidays bring more foot traffic, but when the season ends, it tends to calm down.

“By January, it did slow down a bit. People were done shopping, but we were still open here,” Dovganetskiy said.

Becoming a patron of a local business benefits not only the business owner, but the community as well. For every dollar spent at local businesses, approximately $0.68 goes back into the local economy and enables business owners to give back, she said.

“Local businesses will donate to your kid’s fundraiser, your basketball team, your uniform fundraiser. We’re the ones you come for, and we support all the little things that build our community,” she added.

Small shop shopping also creates a more personal environment for employees and customers, allowing them to cultivate relationships.

Dovganetskiy said her favorite part of the Harrisonburg community is the friendly people and the way they support each other.

“We met their spouses and their children, and you kind of felt like a part of them,” she said.

For a list of small businesses in Harrisonburg, click here.

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