It’s something city officials and area merchants try and stress all year long, but even more so when the holiday shopping season starts on Friday: shop locally.

“It’s just so, so important,” said Francine Wasden, Greenville Area Chamber of Commerce Director. “It doesn’t matter how small an item is, because the sales tax makes an impact in Greenville. I know that sounds crazy, but it’s true. Buy at home first.”

Wasden said she realizes that some shoppers will head north, towards Montgomery, or south, towards outlet destinations like Foley, this holiday season. Especially if there’s some gift idea that’s unavailable in the area, she said. But she said Butler County residents should make as much effort as possible to keep tax dollars at home.

“Fill up your car here, buy a meal here,” she said. “Shop with our merchants, who are your neighbors and friends, as much as possible.”

Specialty shops like the Pineapple, Southern Treasures, and Karen Rainey Interiors, all three located in downtown Greenville, are offering refreshments and a variety of specials this Friday and Saturday.

“Those are our two biggest sales days of the year,” said Rainey, whose store will host an open house on Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday the store will have a special tent sale.

The store had a great turnout for its official, invitation-only, open house in early November, said Rainey.

“Our business has been fine,” she said. “We have noticed that the walk-in traffic has slowed down some, but people are still shopping.”