It’s never been easier to shop.

Need a loaf of bread or lunch? It’s just a few clicks away.

How about a new pair of shoes, a sports coat or a shirt? All you have to do is find the right app and they will be on your doorstep in a matter of days.

A new refrigerator or washer? It can be delivered before the end of the day.

What about a car? You might not have to leave your couch at all — the entire transaction can be completed online or on your phone or tablet and the vehicle delivered straight to your home.

With those transactions being so convenient to make, it can sometimes be easy to forget about the local shops and businesses that offer special items and personalized service. They’re run by local men and women who have not just set up shop in the town, they are always willing to support the communities that support them.

That’s part of the drive behind special promotions, including Small Business Saturday. Created by American Express in 2010 to champion local businesses around the country, the designation marks the Saturday after Thanksgiving, the big shopping day that falls between Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

And, while it’s an important day, coming during the traditional start of the Christmas shopping season, presidents of our local chambers of commerce remind area residents they should look to local businesses every day of the year.

“That’s exactly right,” Kate Sedgmer, president of the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce, explained. “We try to spread the wealth and share the message that while holiday shopping is important, we want to emphasize that people should shop local. It should be our first priority to shop local rather than go to a national retailer like Amazon.”

In case you doubt the power of shopping at small businesses, especially during the coming weekend, the numbers offer an interesting take. According to the U.S. Small Business Administration and American Express, total spending on last year’s Small Business Saturday was $17 billion. Since 2010, total spending on that day has been an estimated $210 billion.

“I’m a believer in not just supporting local businesses on Small Business Saturday — we support them all year,” said Brenda Mull, president of the Weirton Area Chamber of Commerce.

“It’s a time to show our appreciation to small businesses,” she continued. “They are there for us — it’s important that we show them we are there for them. They support us in everything we do — we need to show them appreciation for what they do.”

Despite all of the changes in the way we shop, this coming week remains important. On Friday, an estimated 131.7 million people are planning to head to stores or shop online, according to the National Retail Federation. And, the NRF adds, 65 percent of those people expect to shop in stores. Estimates show 64.4 million will shop on Nov. 30, 37.6 million will shop on Dec. 1 and 72.3 million will shop on Dec. 2, Cyber Monday.

“With the holidays and Small Business Saturday just around the corner, we want to remind you to please support your local businesses,” said Dan Otto, president of the Wellsburg Chamber of Commerce. “While we all enjoy the convenience that sometimes comes with the national and international businesses, usually only a small portion of your purchase actually goes to a small business, and, even less likely, a local one.”

Our region’s chambers look to emphasize the importance small businesses can have on the region.

“I think a lot of people have a dream that they would like to do that, open their own business,” Mull said. “Our community is growing. We have issues we have to deal with, just like every community. There are people who always have thought they want to have a small business — they say, ‘let’s try it.'”

Those who are successful at running their small businesses recognize the importance of staying involved in the community. That can include, according to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, hosting and sponsoring community events or donating to local charities. And money spent locally comes back in ways that you might not always think about — a portion of the local taxes on purchases can help local municipalities provide services, for example.

“We always encourage everyone to support local businesses on Small Business Saturday and throughout the year,” said Eric Fithyan, president of the Follansbee Chamber of Commerce. “To promote small businesses this year, we are working with American Express, which has supplied tote bags and other items expressing the importance of locally owned businesses.”

“For the holidays, try to think of gift ideas that can benefit your local small business,” Otto added. “Gift certificates are one good idea. Check with your local hair and nail salon, cleaning company or florist — usually these types of places have gift certificates available, and that gives you a reason to visit the business directly.”

Local chambers are planning promotions to help their members. Sedgmer said her chamber has launched a scavenger hunt that involves shopping at local businesses, while Mull said her chamber once again will have a banner in the Weirton Christmas parade (which the chamber sponsors) as a way of showing it supports the community.

Otto pointed to the Christmas Marketplace planned for the morning of Black Friday in Wellsburg. Fithyan discussed a heart that can be found at businesses that are chamber members. It reads, “Small businesses are the heart of our community.” That’s fitting, he said, because small businesses support community organizations and other endeavors in various ways.

All of that is important for our local small businesses — and our communities.

“One of the initiatives of the chamber this year has been to emphasize all of the wonderful things going on in the area,” Sedgmer said. “We are impressed with all the things local businesses have been doing, and their creative spin and how they are marketing their businesses.”

That’s something that is important not just on Small Business Saturday and during the holiday shopping season, but all through the year. It’s captured in a reminder from American Express: When you shop small, you make your community great.

(Gallabrese, a resident of Steubenville, is executive editor of the Herald-Star and The Weirton Daily Times)