5 minute read
NEWS
from 12.2.21
By Emily Williams-RoBERtshaW
The theme for this year’s shopping season is, “If you see it, buy it,” according to local business leaders.
Shipping delays and their impact on the 2021 holiday shopping season are headline news throughout the nation, and local chamber officials have noticed that folks are shopping and buying earlier.
Mountain Brook Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Suzan Doidge notes that many merchants and retailers are making a point to be transparent with shoppers.
“Mountain Brook is a close-knit community with many of the merchants and retailers living here,” Doidge said. “Our businesses have all been going through some of the same things with shipping and many have said that if you see it in the store, buy it because they might not have the options of buying more.”
While shopping by clicking a button from your couch can feel instantly gratifying, the wait for your package to arrive at your door may be longer than expected. When you shop at the store shelf, you know it’s yours.
According to local chamber officials, there is already a noticeable rise in sales at local small businesses.
“Retail foot traffic and total sales seem to be up this year at an earlier time frame,” Drennen said. “Both local
and national media have done a great job of keeping the public aware of shipping delays and the small business community has stepped up to fill any holes. Even larger businesses have enlisted small, local vendors to ensure shelves are stocked, benefiting everyone.”
Make It a Party
To encourage residents to spend their gift-giving dollars at home, cities and chambers host a variety of events to highlight local small businesses.
According to Drennen, holding holiday open houses in areas where there are high concentrations of small businesses is a great way to encourage the community to buy local.
Not only was attendance at the Downtown Homewood Holiday Open House on Nov. 4 comparable to a prepandemic year, Drennen said, the number of sales was much higher than in a typical year.
“We attribute this to the community being aware of shipping delays and supply chain issues,” she said.
Similarly, Doidge said there was a great response at the Crestline Holiday Open House on Nov. 18.
“It was a cold rainy day and evening but people came out to support the business,” Doidge said. “I was surprised we had so many participants with the weather and also two large events going on that evening – The Reed Foundation’s Finish the Fight and the Junior League’s Market Noel.”
Local sales’ rising is a win not only for small business owners but the community as a whole, adding to the community’s economic health, its tax base and job pool.
In Mountain Brook, for example, the commercial villages establish the unique identities of the communities and are a draw not just for surrounding residents but people from other communities.
City Manager Sam Gaston pointed out that Mountain Brook’s three original commercial villages – English Village, Mountain Brook Village and Crestline Village – and Overton Village are maintained by the city’s Public Works Department. When the business communities thrive, it gives city government cause to invest more.
In the late 1990s, Gaston said, the city of Mountain Brook invested in projects in each village to widen sidewalks, improve landscaping, install new streetlights and other tasks to make the area more aesthetically pleasing and functional for visitors.
“We clean and blow the sidewalks, run the street sweeper, maintain the decorative street lights, empty the garbage and recycling cans and maintain the flowers and pots throughout each village,” Gaston said. “Without a viable and diverse business community, this might not be possible.”
It Takes A Holiday Village
OTM Shoppers Buy Locally to Support Small Business, Avoid Holiday Shipping Delays
Journal file photo by Jordan Wald
GOOD TIMES FOR BUSINESS
To encourage residents to spend their gift-giving dollars at home, cities and chambers host a variety of events that help highlight local small businesses, including the upcoming:
Shoppers who want to check things off of their lists in Mountain Brook Village can do so with a little added holiday spirit as the merchants host the Mountain Brook Holiday Open House on Dec. 2. Website: mtnbrookchamber.org
Mistletoe and Mimosas - Dec. 4
Lane Parke will host a sip and stroll event from 10 a.m.-1 p.m., featuring festive mimosas, a hot chocolate bar and holiday shopping deals. In addition, the Alabama Hair Fairy will be available for anyone who wants to add a little sparkle to their hairstyle. Website: laneparke.com
Mountain Brook Holiday Parade - Dec. 5
A time-honored tradition for the entire city, the annual Mountain Brook Holiday Parade will travel through Mountain Brook Village form 3-4 p.m. The event will feature floats decked out in holiday decor as well as live performances. Website: mtnbrookchamber.org
Homewood Lighting of the Star and Christmas Parade - Dec. 7
The City of Homewood will celebrate its annual Lighting of the Star in conjunction with the Homewood Christmas Parade. The event will begin with the lighting of the historic Homewood Star over 18th St., followed by the parade at 6:30 p.m. and the lighting of the Christmas Tree at City Hall. Website: homewoodchamber.org
Poker Run; Shop, Sip and Stroll -Dec. 9
The merchants of English Village in Mountain Brook will host the annual Shop, Sip and Stroll event, along with the rescheduled Poker Run from 4-7 p.m. Website: mtnbrookchamber.org
Breakfast with Santa - Dec. 11
Vestavia Hills’ annual Holiday in the Hills event series continues with this family-friendly pancake breakfast, including meet and greets with Santa Claus from 7:30-10 a.m. at the Vestavia Hills Civic Center. No Reservations are needed and the event is free to the public. Website: vestaviahills.org/holiday-in-the-hills
Vestavia Hills Christmas Parade - Dec. 12
The city of Vestavia Hills’s annual holiday parade will include floats and performers traveling along Liberty Parkway from the Liberty Park Sports Complex to Alston Meadows beginning at 2 p.m. Website: vestaviahills.org/holiday-in-the-hills
