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WILMINGTON--When Wilmington resident Catherine Hedge needs to shop for her children, she heads straight for the Froggy Pond.

"We love coming to this shop. They're very friendly, love the environment," said Hedge.

She says when it comes to back-to-school shopping, she wants to give her dollars to local businesses.

"I think especially in this economy, we all need to help each other out, so certainly if you can, shop locally, as opposed to online or somewhere else.”

"Our biggest challenge is trying to compete with these big box stores, Wal-mart, Target, Best Buy, even though we don't sell electronics, it's the big box stores that typically go to in droves," Melinda Hall, owner of Froggy Pond.

But standing out brings people in.

"There are things that we can offer that the big box stores can't," Hall said.

Owner of Downtown Darlings Marcia Frelke also believes in offering unique items like lunchboxes and rain gear to attract shoppers.

"When they think, I have to get all of those book bags and school supplies, they are thinking Target, Wal-mart, and all I can say is that we have some unusual different ones if you don't want run-of-the-mill," Frelke said.

She knows lines may not be out the door at mom and pop type stores, but hopes more and more shoppers will recognize the value of buying local.

"There are ten shops down here. We try really hard to make it worth the trip and find something unique and different and fun," Frelke said.