Whitehorse residents were being encouraged to keep things local as the Christmas shopping season wrapped up this afternoon.

In fact, a number of local businesses have even helped you wrap up the season with complimentary gift wrap for their purchases.

As noted by Mike Pemberton, the treasurer of the Whitehorse Chamber of Commerce, on a national level, online sales seem to be up this season while the amount of foot traffic in and out of “brick and mortar” stores is declining overall.

It’s a trend that seems to be happening in Whitehorse as well, he said this week, noting that traffic in Erik’s AVU, which he manages, seems to be down some from the same time last year.

“I think we’re in a little bit of a crunch,” Pemberton said, also acknowledging the impact recent mine closures may be having on the local shopping scene.

As he suggested, the economic spinoffs the territory had been seeing from mining just aren’t spinning right now.

While the economy may have an impact on how much people are spending, Pemberton is encouraging Yukoners to consider local shops before purchasing online.

There’s a perception that shoppers can get a better price online.

While Pemberton said he couldn’t speak for other businesses, in Erik’s AVU case, the store works hard to keep prices competitive with online prices.

He noted that with the comparable prices locally come the added bonuses of face-to-face service. It’s also not as difficult to bring back a product if there’s a problem.

He went on to point out money spent at local shops stays in the territory and goes toward the wages of local staff, who number between 20 and 25 in the case of Erik’s AVU.

It also flows into community events sponsored by businesses, something that becomes harder to offer if people are choosing to shop elsewhere.

While foot traffic may not be where it was last year, Pemberton also noted Boxing Day is a big day for the store. Many people are expected to come in that day hoping to get a good deal on new electronics.

Many who have visited the store in the days leading up to Christmas are purchasing things like televisions, which have seen a dramatic drop in prices over the last few years.

While some local businesses that have been downtown for years may be seeing a little less foot traffic, other new shops in the downtown core are experiencing the benefits of the prime location.

Late last year, Shannon L’Heureux, the owner of Due North And Maternity, moved from operating the shop in her home to the Horwood’s Mall.

This Christmas season seems to have been much busier than last season, especially in the past couple of weeks, L’Heureux said. More people in town likely know about the store now, she noted.

“It’s been really good,” she said of the Christmas shopping season.

L’Heureux noted many of her customers already see the benefits of shopping locally.

Many want to see and try on maternity clothes at the store before they make the purchase, something that can’t be done online.

Some of the best-selling clothes are also made for breast feeding following the infant’s birth. High-quality organic baby clothes are another popular purchase this Christmas season.

And many have been enjoying getting those special gifts for little ones wrapped at the store and the added convenience of shopping locally.

With Christmas shopping in full swing, Due North has been among a number of shops that have extended their hours to accommodate shoppers.

Another shop to make the move from home to storefront recently is Station141 on Ogilvie Street.

The shop, which sells custom print clothing along with other wares, had been operating out of owner Lance Burton’s home for some time, with Burton taking most orders online for clothing or signage.

With the shop now downtown, he said, it means balancing both the walk-in traffic looking for a unique gift idea and dealing with other clients that are getting other work done.

“I’m swamped,” he said, noting many have come into the shop for some custom print duds that you won’t find in any store.

Burton said it’s been fun to present customers with the finished product that will soon make its way under a Christmas tree.

“I kind of feel like Santa,” he said.

Those looking for Santa this season were more likely to find him in a couple of kids’ stores in town, with visits at separate times to Angellina’s Toy Boutique and Second Show Kids Consignment.

Along with the visits from Santa, both stores extended their hours over the Christmas season, with the final shopping day set for today for those last-minute shoppers.

“We’re happy to wrap the gift,” said Angellina’s owner, Betty Skoke Burn. She praised her staff, who have been working “around the clock” over the last couple of weeks.

Popular toys like the Star Wars Perplexus, retro Tonka trucks, indoor active play toys and the Pie Face game have been difficult to keep in stock – or have sold out altogether.

Each year, Burns said she continues to be surprised by the popularity of Megformers, magnetic shapes that can be used together to build things, with many adding to their collection.

They are all part of a long list of popular items shoppers have been buying for the Christmas shopping season since Nov. 1.

While Burns acknowledges her customers are very tech-savvy and could simply click a button to get much of their shopping done online, she noted they also understand the value of shopping local, especially with little difference in pricing.

“We’re very price-conscious,” she said.

After eight years in business, Burns noted, they’ve been able to “tweak” a few things in order to save on shipping bills to keep costs down.

At Second Show, owner Chrissy Pottie said things seem a little slower than last year.

It’s not clear whether that might be related to choosing to order items online or due to a move from her former location next to the Great Canadian Dollar Store at the Yukon Inn plaza to her new shop down the road on Fourth Avenue near Ogilvie Street.

She believes her shop likely benefited from its proximity to the Dollar Store.

Many shoppers coming in are looking for holiday dress wear for their little ones, with some picking up a few Melissa & Doug toys the store sells as well.

Pottie pointed out the benefits of shopping locally, especially when it comes to picking out clothes for youngsters.

It provides an opportunity to see if the item will fit properly and whether they even like the material, she noted.

Pottie also pointed out that in choosing consignment clothes, there’s also the opportunity to save some money on the purchase while also helping to keep clothes out of the landfill.

While the Christmas shopping season officially wraps up at the end of business hours today, fewer than two days away are the Boxing Day sales many will likely take advantage of.