The holidays are here and once again the Chippewa Valley is ready to glimmer like a Christmas tree at grandma’s house, where the tinsel is thick and subtlety is forbidden. In the pages ahead, you'll find a whole lot of ways to celebrate the season: festive events, local traditions, holiday performances, unique shopping destinations, and plenty of reasons to get out and experience the community we call home.

But this year, we're also asking you to think a little more about where you spend your holiday dollars, and the difference those decisions can make. It's no secret that things are challenging for many local businesses right now. Rising costs, changing shopping habits, and economic uncertainty have created real pressures on the independent shops, restaurants, and venues that give our community its character. And we know many households are feeling those same pressures.

That's why Volume One has joined forces with more than 50 other local businesses – and our partners, SuperChoice Credit Union and Window World – to bring back our Make It Matter buy local campaign, encouraging everyone to pledge to do at least some of their holiday shopping locally. We're not asking you to spend more. We're just asking to make some of what you already spend matter more. And if you make a pledge, you could also win a $1,000 shopping spree. Details are on pages 6-9. 

We know it intuitively, but it’s always worth a reminder that every local purchase helps support a neighbor, sustain a job, and keep our community vibrant. Those small decisions, multiplied across thousands of us, can make an enormous difference. And with that in mind, maybe you can enjoy the season even more. Explore these pages and maybe discover something new for your family. And join us in making this holiday season count.

Take the pledge at VolumeOne.org/buylocal