Here are tips for shopping local during the holiday season on the Mississippi Coast

Tomorrow is Small Business Saturday, a chance to shop local and support your favorite Mississippi Coast shops, boutiques and restaurants.

Shopping locally is a convenient way to find unique gifts, create demand for local jobs, support local businesses and invest in your community

Here are tips to get the best deals:

• Check your favorite local businesses on Facebook to see what deals they are offering. Some may have started early on Black Friday.

• Lots of small businesses have gift cards or gift certificates for purchase.

• If you’re looking for something for someone who’s impossible to shop for, give them an experience. Snag a gift card to their favorite local restaurant or coffee shop.

• Check with local theaters and museums for tickets to upcoming shows.

• Choose handmade items like jams, jewelry, quilts and furniture. Most local businesses sell handmade products directly from their sources, cutting out the middleman and offering better prices.

Check these chamber of commerce websites for businesses near you:

• Mississippi Gulf Coast Chamber of Commerce

• Biloxi Chamber of Commerce

• D’Iberville/St. Martin Chamber of Commerce

• Hancock Chamber of Commerce

• Jackson County Chamber of Commerce

• Ocean Springs Chamber of Commerce

• The Area Development Partnership (Hattiesburg)

Mona Moore

Sun Herald

Mona Moore was a Service Journalism Desk Editor for the Sun Herald in Mississippi; Mahoning Matters in Ohio; and the Ledger-Enquirer and Telegraph in Georgia. Originally from West Covina, California, she holds a bachelor’s and master’s in corporate and public communication from the University of South Alabama. Mona’s writing and photography have been recognized by press associations in Mississippi, North Carolina and Florida.