SOS: Save our shops (local ones that is)

November 24, 7:53 PMCharleston Family Life ExaminerCynthia Nirenblatt

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Keep local businesses like Knit in mind November 28.

I'm sending out an S.O.S.  Save Our Shops. 

On Friday, November 28, the alarm clock is going to ring in someone's house at 3 a.m. and they're going to crawl out of bed and head out to a chain store and wait in line for the massive doors to open, only to compete over the same merchandise as someone else who got up at 2 a.m. to do the same.

Look, I’m all for some great sales at the big chain stores before the crack of dawn, but frankly, I’d rather shop them in my pjs on the computer than to wait in line behind hundreds of others either standing in line with coffee and cigarettes or worse, with their sleepy, freezing, unwilling children in tow.

Now, that being said, I’m perfectly willing to get up, have some breakfast (in my pjs) and spend some time with my kids before heading out and trying to jump start the economy ... our local economy, especially.

So, with the help of a friend of mine who sent me an online coupon for a local store, I’m here to spread the word of local shops who are having some great sales so you can truly get some unique gifts at great prices.

Remember, we’re all in this together!

Wonderworks, located in Belle Hall Shopping Center in Mt. Pleasant and in St. Andrew’s Shopping Center West Ashley, has a link on their website wonderworkscharleston.com which gives you two coupons to use in the store and with the purchase of $50 or more, you can be entered to win a $200 pedal car! How cool is that? With their great selection of toys for children and adults, you’re sure to find plenty of things on your list all in one spot.

Knit, downtown on Wentworth Street, is having an after Thanksgiving Day sale, too. So for those of you who want to either make a gift from the heart, or know someone who loves to knit...ahem..., this is a great opportunity to stock up on some yarns, knitting needles and other supplies at 40, 50 and even 75% off. Go to knitk.com to see the details of the sale and to get locations. Try parking in the parking garage across the street since King Street will be slammed with shoppers going into all the other chain stores.

But while you’re downtown, don’t forget to meander to upper King past Market Street and lower King south of Calhoun Street and visit all the local shops that keep our economy running. Sure, it’s great fun to shop at the big chain stores like The Gap, Talbot's and Urban Outfitters, but it’s so important to keep the local businesses in business because the owners are our friends, our neighbors and ourselves.