Las Vegas NowBuy Local Says Las Vegas Chamber

Buy Local Says Las Vegas Chamber

Despite the deals available online, local businesses are launching a campaign to encourage shoppers to keep their money locally. Local money means local jobs and also helps the cash-strapped local governments which depend on the tax revenue.

The effort is being spearheaded by the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce. Starting soon you'll see a public service announcement featuring Mayor Oscar Goodman.

When you are planning where to spend your holiday dollars, Isaac Domenzain is probably not on your mind. He is one of three technical service employees at a local business called PC Laptops on the valley's west side.

His job depends on local customers, "A lot of people have questions, they don't know how to do this -- little things that people that don't know, we know so we help them out. It is pretty cool. They go out with a smile on their face."

Store Manager John Moxon agrees. There are many compelling bargains to be found in cyberspace. But he says he constantly tells customers local merchants bring something to the table out of town vendors simply cannot provide.

"Once we talk to them about the fact that we are service oriented. We are about relationship building. It is not so much about selling a product as it is selling a relationship and selling that one-on-one service. And that is something you don't get in an environment where you are working on the internet."

"I want them to know that we really would like them to spend their dollars here not send them there," said Mayor Goodman. He is on board with the effort saying the sales taxes paid will also help state and local government.

"We're trying to say before anyone spends any money, think in terms of what impact it is going to have on our community and whether it is going to be beneficial to us. So that money will go toward schools and social services and everything else that happens in this great city of ours," he said.

The chamber is emphasizing that it wants you shop with both locally owned business and also large national chains that have a physical presence in Las Vegas. But if that national chain has a website, the chamber is encouraging local shoppers to actually go the local store rather than buying online.