Daily Herald opinion: Shop local: Support brick-and-mortar stores, independent retailers on Black Friday and Small Business Saturday

Having devoted hours to cooking your Thanksgiving feast Thursday — or gratefully gorging yourself on turkey, stuffing and green beans prepared by someone else — you might not want to leave the comfort of your couch on Black Friday.

We get it: The stores are busy; the lines are long. It’s cold out, and the Bears are playing the Eagles at 2 p.m.

A day spent in your sweats eating leftovers and watching football (or back-to-back Hallmark Christmas movies) is mighty tempting.

But if you are looking for holiday gifts or hoping to pick up a few things for yourself at great prices, we urge you to find time to shop in person and share your business with brick-and-mortar stores that may be struggling to keep up against the online giants.

While it may be easier to let your fingers do the shopping, there’s something special about seeing the holiday decorations, watching kids line up to see Santa and actually touching the merchandise before it’s delivered to your door. Plus, you will be supporting those stores instead of mourning them down the road when they close their doors and let employees go, citing the all-too-familiar tale of sales lost to the internet.

Besides, it’s a great way to get in the spirit of the season and walk off a few of those Thanksgiving calories.

And, while you are planning your shopping route, don’t forget the independent retailers. Small Business Saturday is a great time to browse and buy at suburban boutiques and mom-and-pop stores that need your business more than ever.

As the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Illinois District office pointed out in a news release earlier this week, Small Business Saturday has generated more than $220 billion for independent retailers, service businesses and restaurants since it was launched 15 years ago. According to American Express, owners of those businesses anticipate that almost 20% of their annual revenue will come from that day alone.

“Small Business Saturday is an opportunity to drive more traffic to Illinois small businesses — whether it’s through their doors or to their e-commerce site — during the holiday shopping season,” said SBA Illinois District Director Willette LeGrant. “These small businesses are the engines of our economy, creating vibrant local communities and providing jobs.”

These stores are important tenants in our towns, drawing locals and visitors alike. We’ve lost a number over the last few years; we need to support those who are left.

And, yes, you’ll still have time to slip into your sweats and finish off that last slice of pumpkin pie.