Shopping local supports community

While everyone else is stumbling over each other trying to nab that half-price toaster during Black Friday, or is stuck at home counting down the hours to secure those Cyber Monday deals, there will be cheery groups of shoppers combing through their local stores’ shelves for one-of-a-kind products on Saturday — and all the while helping their community.

Indeed, Small Business Saturday is not only a chance for patrons to get unique gifts for relatives, friends and loved ones for the holidays, it’s a time to support local retailers. Erin Yeager, executive director of Newton Main Street, an organization that champions the downtown shopping areas, said there is a bigger purpose to shopping local for holiday gifts.

“When you don’t shop at your brick and mortar stores that are here, we start losing our downtowns to the bigger Walmarts and Targets and Amazons,” Yeager said. “It’s just really important to shop local and shop small. Those are the people that keep your communities going.”

Newton Main Street’s Small Business Saturday event begins when participating stores open their doors Nov. 30 in the downtown district. By then, most folks will already have had their turkey and gravy, and perhaps a bruise or two from a bit of Black Friday shopping, but Main Street has offered an incentive to make return trips to local, small town shops.

For every $25 shoppers spend on items at participating stores, they will be given a $5 coupon, or what Yeager calls “Main Street Bucks.” Likewise, for every $10 shoppers spend, they will be given a $1 coupon. These can be redeemed from Dec. 9-24 — just in time for a round of last-minute shopping.

Main Street Bucks ensure repeat customers, but the local shops still take the opportunity to go all-out with deals. Last year, Vicki Wade, owner of Olive ‘et Boutique, offered a gift-with-purchase featuring limited supply products. Events like Small Business Saturdays and fun deals help generate traffic in stores.

In the past, business owners like Julia Prendergast, of Fine Things Reclaimed, reported high volumes of customers during Small Business Saturday — also referred to as Shop Small Saturday by some — and remarked that it’s a way for Newton to showcase its unique storefronts.

“I think people have found, especially in Newton lately, that they have some cute stores that are reasonably priced and are cute to shop at,” Prendergast said in November 2018.

Another key factor to shopping local is the guaranteed personal service from business owners and employees who are in-store day in and day out. Yeager said there’s a warm feeling shoppers get when they’re greeted with a “Hello” or “How are you?” by a familiar face.

In Newton, Yeager said there’s even a collaboration among business owners that will likely carry over during Small Business Saturday.

"I think when you do shop, (local business owners) don't just want people at their stores. They tell you, 'Oh! This store is having this special' or 'Don't forget to check in at this store.' So it's really about driving them to everybody and to support everybody. And you get that warm and fuzzy feeling when you shop small, too."

Contact Christopher Braunschweig at 641-792-3121 ext. 6560 or
cbraunschweig@newtondailynews.com