Notes from Town Square: Supporting local businesses

Small Business Saturday is held between Black Friday and Cyber Monday and encourages people to do some of their holiday shopping at small, local businesses. In order to support this practice, the Green River Chamber of Commerce and the Green River URA/Main Street Agency have teamed up to provide you with an opportunity to do some holiday shopping locally.

We are hosting a Small Business Showcase on Saturday, Nov. 19 at the Island Pavilion in Green River from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Twenty seven businesses will be available for you to get a head start on your gift-buying before the Thanksgiving rush. There will also be a Wine and Brew tasting provided by a local merchant and pictures of your pets with Santa Paws provided by the Red Desert Humane Society.

Why shop local? Here are just a few reminders of why it’s important to shop small, beyond sales tax generation, which is also important. Spending money locally:

*Stimulates the local economy.

When you purchase at locally owned businesses rather than nationally owned stores, about 70 cents of every dollar stays local. Only 40 cents of every dollar spent stays local when shopping at a big box store.

* Preserves community character.

The unique character of our local community is defined in large part by the businesses that reside here. Locally owned shops provide more of a custom selection geared for the local market and our particular needs and interests.

* Helps local charities, schools and other programs.

On average, locally owned businesses give Three times as much as corporate chains.

* Provides jobs.

Small businesses are the largest employers nationally. A town with many small, local businesses employs more people than a town with a Big Box store.

* Ensures better quality and uniqueness.

A town that has many small businesses ensures innovation and lower prices over the long-term. Small businesses are also more likely to carry items that you won’t find in big box stores.

After the Business Showcase, Small Business Saturday is Nov. 26 and is the perfect opportunity to get out and explore what Green River has to offer. If you come downtown, you’ll find that we have local entrepreneurs selling fresh baked goods, bath and body products, unique gifts, and some odds and ends that you wouldn’t expect. Many local artisans have their products in some of the downtown businesses, too.

There are also many services to offer including salons, pet grooming, floral shops and a place to get that family portrait framed, just to name a few.

So after you’ve survived the madness of Black Friday, come downtown for a peaceful shopping experience and find those personal gifts that make your loved ones feel special.

 

Reader Comments(0)