November is here, and with it the beginning of the holiday season. Jack-o-lanterns may be moldering on our porches, but this is the month that shopping begins, and many of us are already thinking about what we might give. While the focus of the season should never be on presents, now is a good time for the shoppers among us to start thinking about shopping locally.

Yes, shopping locally — that same tired campaign the chamber of commerce preaches each year. But the chamber and The Beachcomber know as well as anyone the struggles of our small local businesses. We also know just how vital these businesses are to the island.

Local business keeps our town core thriving, making Vashon a vibrant place for residents and visitors. Perhaps more importantly, they provide much-needed jobs, allowing more people to live and work on the island. Money spent at these businesses stays on Vashon, helping our local economy. And many business owners donate to local causes, host fundraisers and hire young people.

On an island that can feel isolated from Seattle, it’s also a comfort to know we have some amount of access to the goods we want from a variety of businesses on Vashon. It’s easy to run into these establishments for a desperately needed item — a tube from the bike shop, a jacket from Northwest Sports or a present from a gift shop. But don’t forget to patronize those places when you’re not in a hurry, too, to assure they’re still around when you need them.

Vashon businesses have long struggled to stay afloat — some go for years without turning a profit. They not only compete with malls and big-box stores, but now face the ever-growing competition of the internet. Online retail sales are expected to grow from $231 billion in 2012 to $370 billion in 2017, according to CMO.com, a digital marketing news site. And it’s not just a trend among young people. Two-thirds of Americans 50 and over now shop online, and those 50-plus spend twice as much money online as younger adults. Island business owners have reported they often just can’t compete with online prices. But spending online will do nothing to benefit the place we live.

Later this month, The Beachcomber will publish a holiday gift guide, which is full of ideas for celebrating the season, including a plethora of ways to shop locally on any budget. The chamber has already begun this season’s shop local campaign, asking shoppers to get passports stamps. Giving locally sold or even locally made items this year gives twofold — to the receiver, and back to the community that in many ways depends on a strong local economy.