Shop Small success for downtown

Newton Main Street, Greater Newton Area Chamber of Commerce and the Centre for Arts and Artists partnered to organize a “Shop Small” holiday retail promotion over the Thanksgiving holiday shopping weekend.

The promotion celebrates Small Business Saturday, which encourages people to support small businesses on the Saturday after Thanksgiving.

At “Shop Small,” customers received cash coupons from retailers for purchases made between Nov. 27 and Dec. 7, and could redeem the coupons at the same stores between Dec. 8 and Dec. 24. Participating retailers had two options for coupons: for every $25 spent, a customer receives a $5 cash coupon, or for every $10 spent, a customer receives a $1 cash coupon.

Along with the “Shop Small” promotion, a pop-up art show and sale was hosted by the Centre for Arts and Artists at the former Pappy’s Antique Mall. The one day art show was on Nov. 29 from noon to 4 p.m.

At the art show, more than 20 artists displayed their work and had items for sale. The art show also had a children’s activity and bakery sweets on sale.

“Our goal is to get people downtown and showcase the unique gift options offered by downtown retailers and area artists,” said Andrew Bassman, executive director of the Newton Main Street Partnership. “The combination presents a distinct holiday shopping experience unlike what is available anyplace else.”

Local business owner Bonnie Terpstra of The Farmer’s Wife said she thought having the promotion would help people to remember to shop small. Along with several other businesses, she took part in the promotion and saw the cash coupons come back to the store in the following weeks.

Contact Jamee A. Pierson at
641-792-3121 ext. 6534
or jpierson@newtondailynew.com