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RALEIGH -- While many people are still finishing up their last minute holiday shopping, area store owners say you give everyone a gift when you shop at local businesses.

Kristin Worrell is finishing up her holiday list. Instead of heading to the mall or the big box stores, she chose the Eclectic Furniture Garden.

“I love shopping here,” she said. “A lot of people go to the malls but you have to fight all the traffic and I can never find a parking space. In a shop like this, I just pull right up and once you come in a couple of times, they know you. They can look for things you like. It's a much more pleasant experience shopping here.”

The Greater Raleigh Merchants Association says when you shop at locally owned businesses, an average of 64 cents of every dollar stays in the community.

“You're supporting a family [when you shop local],” said Joyce Hawley, who owns the store with her two daughters. She says it's tough to compete with the big box stores, especially during the holidays.

“We had to put our stuff on sale faster than we did last year to compete with the big stores,” she added.

Some people worry local shops are more expensive than the big box stores, but shoppers say the prices are very competitive, and if it does cost a little bit more, it's worth every penny.

“A lot of the stuff is handmade,” Worrell said. “I just think maybe you pay a little bit more but you get something unique that the person wouldn't find otherwise.”

Local stores also often add a personal touch like free gift wrapping, personal shopping assistance and courtesy calls when particular items arrive in stock.