No one has escaped the pandemic completely unscathed. Retail has been hit harder than most. The ma and pa shops along the boulevard are on the ropes if not already down and out. They need all the help they can get. A great location doesn’t help as much in a pandemic because no one is leaving their home unless they absolutely have to. People often combine shopping with eating out. But if your town does not allow inside dining right now, that foot traffic is all but gone.

Coronavirus comes after a series of challenges to local businesses. People were already getting a bit disenchanted with brick and mortar retail. Price was not the only reason they were abandoned for Walmart in the burbs. There was a distinct lack of responsiveness to customer needs. Returns were a hassle when possible at all. Delivery was expensive. Some shop owners behaved in an unprofessional and entitled manner that put a lot of people off. Then, there were the inventory problems. Everything you really wanted had to be special ordered.

For many shop owners, the pandemic was the final kick in the teeth. They have had enough. The shops that did business the right way are left to suffer for the sins of the rest. Many businesses have survived and thrived against all odds. We all want to see them do well and offer our patronage. By all means, shop local at the places that do it right. They need your help. But there are a few exceptions. Here are three:

Clothes That Fit You Well

Don’t just settle for clothes that kind of fit, and that is kind of the style you wanted. The reality is that small, local shops have limited space for merchandise. They cannot afford to bring in items that don’t sell very well. That forces a lot of people who wear plus sizes to settle for much less than what they really wanted and needed.

What you need is a plus size online boutique that carries the selection you are looking for and fast, free delivery as an option. This is not infidelity to local businesses. Long before the pandemic, women routinely had to drive to out of the way places to find a clothing store with options that fit. This has never been one of the strengths of local clothing shops. So while you continue to support those shops for your family, use the superior online options for yourself. You deserve to be as happy with your clothes as the rest of your family.

Healthy Meal Kits

Meal kits are a trend that is sweeping the nation. Even large supermarkets are getting in on the game by making their own. However, if you have special dietary needs, it might be difficult to find one that is right for you.

A healthy and happy mom is a better mom. And you need to do the things that make you healthy and happy. Moms tend to be happy when they can take a day off and not have to work the kitchen like an unpaid line cook. That doesn’t mean they are willing to sacrifice healthy eating. Find a healthy meal kit plan that is right for you and enjoy the luxury of not having to cook every night.

Consumer Electronics

Unless you have a big box retailer in your neighborhood, you are not going to have much luck sourcing the hottest electronics. It is a thousand percent certainty you are not going to find a PlayStation 5 at the neighborhood electronics shop. If you browse the tech sites, you will encounter many new and interesting products that you are never going to encounter in your local store. Shopping online is often the only way to feed your craving for the latest and greatest gadgets.

Local stores are suffering like never before. And many did nothing to deserve it. They did everything right. But the pandemic was too much. Unless you are shopping for clothes that fit you well, healthy meal kits, or high-demand electronics, shop local. They could really use your help right now.