THE NUMBERS DON’T LIE. Locally owned businesses may be classified as “small,” but they have a big impact on the national economy.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Business Employment Dynamics report, small businesses created 10.5 million net new jobs between 2000 and 2019, accounting for 65.1 percent of net new jobs created since 2000 in the United States. Supporting locally owned businesses is a great way to support a neighbor, but that’s not the only attraction. Here are several reasons to shop small.
Doing for others certainly has an impact on the person on the receiving end, but it also benefits the do-gooders. A November 2020 survey by Union Bank found that 72 percent of Americans said supporting small businesses was more important than getting the best deals. That may be due to the feeling of helping out a fellow neighbor.
Shopping at small businesses keeps those establishments afloat, and it also keeps their employees afloat. Small businesses are the largest employers in the United States. A person may never know when he or she — or a relative — will need a job. Keeping small businesses viable provides a strong job market for locals.
The Small Business Administration says $48 out of every $100 spent at a small business stays in the community. Spend the same $100 at a national retailer and only $14 stays.
National retailers and other businesses follow a global business model that may not allow for much customization, but small businesses can provide products or services that relate directly to the needs of the communities they serve. These same small businesses
also may be more inclined to work with local vendors and start-ups than national companies that have global supply chains.
These are just a few of the many reasons to seek out small, local businesses this holiday season.
WHEN CONSIDERING loved ones and acquaintances while making holiday shopping lists, tangible gifts, such as clothing or items for the home, may be the first things that come to mind. However, experiential gifts also merit consideration. Experiential gifts are those that focus on experiences rather than items. They can be tailored to people’s interests, and could include anything from a horseback riding adventure to a spa day to concert tickets to local restaurant gift certificates. Here are a few more ideas...
Now that we are all out and about more, a trip to the theatre might reignite a senior’s passion for live entertainment and make for a memorable night out. Or how about a tour (via bus, walking, cycling or another travel method trailored to your loved one) of places of historical significance, idyllic natural settings or local eateries. A local helicopter or airplane tour or hot air balloon ride can also make a unique gift.
Tickets to a game make a perfect gift. Or how about a stadium tour? For those new to a sport, lessons at a nearby ski mountain, golf course, etc. could be lots of fun for weeks on end.
Passes for a theme park, local pool or childrens’ museum will give families something to look forward to long after the holiday season.
Individuals who want to stream something a little more contemporary this holiday season can consider these songs, which Spotify reports are the five most-streamed holiday songs that were released over the last half decade.
“Snowman” – Sia 2. “White Christmas” – Amy Grant
“Santa’s Coming for Us” – Sia
“Hallelujah” – Pentatonix
“Merry Christmas” – Ed Sheeran and Elton John
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VARIOUS TRADITIONS take center stage during the holiday season. One of those traditions may be sitting down and enjoying a timeless Christmas movie or even newer holiday films that are quickly becoming favorites. Film fans have their own ideas about the best holiday films, but the following movies are some kids and adults can enjoy together.
· “THE POLAR EXPRESS” (2004): A magical adventure to the North Pole aboard the Polar Express train teaches the true spirit of the holidays and the value of bravery and friendship along the way.
· “THE MUPPET CHRISTMAS CAROL” (1992): Charles Dickens’ classic story about a bitter miser might be a little frightening for young children. However, when the Muppet characters tell their version of the classic tale, the story becomes much more family-friendly.
“A BOY CALLED CHRISTMAS” (2021): Based on the book by Matt Haig, this movie is a reimagined take on Father
Christmas. It focuses on Nikolas as he goes on an adventure to find a magical town called Elfhelm.
“JACK FROST” (1998): When a father dies in a car accident, he comes back to life as a snowman in his son’s front yard. Jack learns to keep his promises and make things right with his son — things he wasn’t capable of doing as a human.
“CHRISTMAS WITH THE KRANKS” (2004): The Kranks decide to forgo their annual Christmas party and plan a vacation since their daughter will be out of town. But when said daughter decides to come home after all, chaos
sets in as the couple tries to figure out how to put together an extravaganza at the last minute.
“BEAUTY AND THE BEAST: THE ENCHANTED CHRISTMAS” (1997): The Beast does not favor the holiday season, so Belle must change his mind on the matter in this animated Disney offering.
“ELF” (2003): As a youngster, Buddy was magically transported to the North Pole and raised by Santa’s elves. As an adult, he’s determined to find his real dad in New York City and uncover a way to fit in.
COCKTAIL PARTIES feature prominently on social schedules each holiday season. Such get-togethers are convenient because the foods and beverages served are designed to be small and portable. That can save any holiday host time in the kitchen. “Bacon-Wrapped Goat Cheese-Stuffed Dates” are an easily prepared appetizer that pairs sweet with savory. Even better, these morsels are delicious served warm out of the oven or can be eaten at room temperature when late-arriving guests stroll in. Wrap up cocktail party spreads with this recipe, courtesy of “Spectacular Spreads: 50 Amazing Food Spreads for Any Occasion” (Rock Point) by Meagan Brown.
Preheat the oven to 350 F. Lightly grease a rimmed baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside.
If your dates are not already pitted, slice the dates lengthwise on one side, but not all the way through, to create an opening. Remove the pit. Using a teaspoon measure, fill the cavity of each date with a heaping teaspoon of the goat cheese and then gently press the sides together to close a bit.
Wrap each date with a half slice of bacon and secure with a toothpick. Arrange the bacon-wrapped dates on the prepared baking sheet.
Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, turning the dates halfway through so the bacon is evenly cooked. Transfer the baconwrapped dates to a serving platter and drizzle with the hot honey. Garnish with the parsley. Serve warm or at room temperature.
COME THE HOLIDAYS, many people engage in various customs and rituals that make the season even more special. Reading familiar stories and watching classic Christmas movies are part and parcel of many celebrations. For example, “A Christmas Carol,” a novella by Charles Dickens that was published in 1843, is a must-read and must-see for many people each holiday season. The story is the tale of the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge, who is visited by various ghosts, each of whom teaches Scrooge an important lesson about living life to its fullest. Many local theater companies put on productions of the classic Dickens tale around the holiday season. Holiday celebrants and fans of “A Christmas Carol” can raise a toast to Charles Dickens by enjoying one of his favorite cocktails, the “Sherry Cobbler,” courtesy of Margaret Kaplan’s “How to Drink Like a Writer: Recipes for the Cocktails and Libations that Inspired 100 Literary Greats” (Apollo Publishing). While Dickens did not mention the Sherry Cobbler in “A Christmas Carol,” the beverage does make an appearance in another of his works, “The Life and Adventures of Martin Chuzzlewit.”
SERVES 1
Muddle orange slices and sugar at the bottom of a cocktail shaker. Add sherry and ice and shake. Strain ingredients into a Collins glass filled with crushed ice. Garnish with seasonal berries, maraschino cherries and a lemon wheel. Serve with a generosity of spirit.
HISTORIANS BELIEVE a man named W.V. McGallard planted 25,000 Norway spruce seedlings at his Mercer County, New Jersey farm in 1901, essentially establishing the first commercial Christmas tree farm. By 1908, customers could visit the farm and choose trees for $1 each. McGallard helped create an entirely new industry that now ac
counts for 350 million trees being grown and sold in the United States every year. Here are a few ways for families and shoppers to maximize their time spent looking for a tree and get in the spirit.
· BRING REFRESHMENTS. Bring along thermoses of coffee or hot cocoa and some Christmas cookies.
· SEE LIGHT DISPLAYS. Scope out sce nic spots to view holiday lighting displays near the tree lot or tree farm.
· PLAN A NIGHT OUT. It’s typically a good idea to wait some time for boughs to open before decorating. Use this oppor tunity to dine out and return home ready to decorate.
