NATCHEZ — The six-week shop-local campaign has begun, and area businesses encourage you to Think Natchez First.

“The trickle down effect is important,” Bowie’s Tavern and Dunleith General Manager John Holyoak said. “If someone shopping downtown stops into Bowie’s for lunch and gives the waitress a tip, she is then able to buy products at the mall, and it just feeds on each other.”

Katie’s Ladies Apparel owner Katie McCarstle said Natchez businesses work all year for its customers, who are mostly local.

“It is very important that they at least try to find something at home first before they go on the Internet or out of town to shop,” McCarstle said. “If we all support local businesses, it makes it bigger and better.”

Natchez-Adams County Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Debbie Hudson said this year’s campaign, which is running until the end of December, will feature a new twist — coupons.

Businesses are offering coupons that include two for the price of one glasses of wine at King’s Tavern, $15 off every $50 purchase at Pique by Mush and a free cup of drip coffee with any purchase at Natchez Coffee Company.

“Hopefully it draws people here to see what we have and then (they) spend money,” Hudson said. “In this day and age when we do have so many avenues to buy and shop and do activities, we need to find the best way to market ourselves.”

Shopping local not only helps area businesses stay open, it also helps the community as a whole with the tax dollars being plugged into the economy, Hudson said.

“We can see it in our economy when hotels, restaurants and shops do well,” Hudson said. “It means more tax dollars for us to use for our community’s needs.”

Katie’s will host an open house Dec. 1-3, featuring 20 percent off all store merchandise and free gift wrapping.

“Free gift wrapping, free delivery and personal service, you don’t get that when you go to the big city,” McCarstle said. “We will go beyond the call of duty to keep locals happy.”

McCarstle asks local shoppers to give her business as well as others in the community a chance to fulfill their holiday shopping needs over the next six weeks.

“I would encourage people to come see my girls,” she said. “Everyone who works for me is local. We know your wives, and we know what they like.”

At Bowie’s Tavern, a two for $25 selected entrée special is being offered.

“We are dedicated to the community — Bowie’s is open seven days a week trying to do our part to keep downtown vibrant,” Holyoak said. “We wanted to participate in the coupon campaign to do our part to be a good community partner.”

Bowie’s and other downtown restaurants are at a nice stopping point to take a break for lunch during a shopping excursion, Holyoak said.

“And if the men don’t want to keep shopping but the women do, come by and watch some college or NFL football and get a hamburger or some pizza,” Holyoak said.

Holyoak said many jobs have been lost over the past few years with plants closing, so it’s important for locals to make sure the local shops do well.

“If you don’t take care of tourism and take care of shopping in the community, it will just create more issues,” he said. “I think the community is surviving pretty well considering all it has lost, but for it to get better, we have got to keep all of our commerce in the community as much as possible.”

For more information or to view the coupons, visit www.natchezchamber.com.