WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2018 | THANKSGIVING EXTRA | SECTION B
THANKSGIVING EXTRA
KEEPING SHOPPERS LOCAL
Small Business Saturday was initially launched on the Saturday after Thanksgiving 2010 to encourage people to shop small and bring more holiday shopping to small businesses. The movement has since grown nationally. PROVIDED
Business initiative capitalizes on Small Business Saturday and beyond By Sarah Kocher
FOR EVERY DOLLAR YOU SPEND AT A SMALL BUSINESS:
sarah.kocher@albertleatribune.com
An Albert Lea Economic Development Agency program is working to help small businesses step into the spotlight this holiday season. After originally planning to capitalize on the national Small Business Saturday effort on Nov. 24, ALEDA Interim Executive Director Noelle Hagen said the two-week Shop Local initiative beginning that Saturday will take it one step further. Hagen visited small businesses downtown to see how interested they would be in participating by putting a sign in their windows downtown as part of a branded campaign — “that’s all I was going to do,” Hagen said. As part of those visits, Hagen stopped at the Freeborn County Arts Initiative and spoke with Elisha Andrew Marin and Susanne Crane. “They liked the idea of promoting Small Business Saturday and then brought forward the idea about doing some kind of passport,” Hagen said. In the Shop Local passport world, small businesses are like countries. Customers or browsers can receive a stamp in their passport just for walking through the door — no purchase necessary, Hagen said. By the end of two weeks, those passports can be handed in for a chance at a prize. “The passport is what will get people to take themselves into the businesses and actually be there physically,” Hagen said. Passports do not have to be completely filled by turn-in. Hagen said the purpose is to make meaningful visits. By not requiring purchases to receive a stamp or mark in their passports, the effort is more accessible for all budgets to participate in. The intention is to bring people back to the businesses they may not have visited for a while, or to send them through the door of one they may not have yet explored. “Maybe on your way out the door, you might see something that catches your eye that you’ll remember, ‘I’m going
Addie’s Floral Freeborn County Arts Initiative It’s Worth it Massage Frames R Us Fischer’s Between Friends Whimzy Junktion Market Broadway Bike Homestead Design (at Dinah’s stays in the community Style) New-to-You Albert Lea Art Center Stadheim Jewelers Broadway Home Design Slumberland Tiger City Sports Martin Cycle and Fitness goes to the small business Albert Lea Seed House owner and employee Raleigh’s Ace Hardware wages and benefits Albert Lea CVB Meraki Studios Luethold’s The Pet Authority The Color Wheel Morris Furniture gets reinvested in other Slumberland local businesses Plymouth Shoes Store Garden Diva retailers see a huge revenue Border Market jump this quarter over last Sorenson’s Appliance year, Hagen said Shop Local * More businesses were still offers exposure that expected to be added after press could carry through the time. rest of the year. “I think that I’m just really excited to on their purchasing power. see a lot of our local “I think people need to make a stores trying to conscious effort and really think work together to about what they’re looking for,” keep shoppers in Strom said. “You know, I hear a lot the community,” about ‘There’s nowhere to shop in town or it’s too expensive … I’m Strom said. Hagen said the hoping this kind of gives it a good community has kick, a good kick-start, I guess.” already provided Those who wish to participate traction on the can pick up their passports at the new Shop Albert Freeborn County Arts Initiative Lea Facebook page. during open hours on Nov. 24. “We’re getting the Hagen said ALEDA will print community excited,” 300 passports. If all 300 are she said. not claimed on Small Business After this year, she is Saturday, they will become hopeful this effort becomes available at the Albert Lea something the Albert Lea- Convention and Visitors Bureau. “Everybody should try it — Freeborn County Chamber of Commerce can build on should and it doesn’t have to be that things go well. The chamber is Saturday — but everybody in moment, we have a lot of great involved in helping promote Shop the community should try to do small businesses to shop from,” Local this year. some local shopping, especially Strom encouraged community at this time of year,” Hagen she said. Even if the effort doesn’t mean members to put a local emphasis said.
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back to that store sometime,’” Hagen said. Andrea Strom of Junktion Market said she was excited to hear about the Shop Local initiative. “Our logo is ‘vintage, handmade and local,’ so it just kind of fits along with our whole mission,” Strom said. She said the initiative is a way to support the vendors Junktion Market has in its store, which include local artisans. “We wanted to support them and they’re supporting us, and I think we strongly believe that it’s important to shop local and support this community,” Strom said. For Hagen, Shop Local is also a reminder of the retail options Albert Lea offers. “Just because we don’t have a large big box retail at this
Participating Shop Local businesses