Shop small

For many people, Thanksgiving goes hand-in-hand with Black Friday, the following day (or sometimes Thanksgiving night) when crowds rush to stores to get deals and do their Christmas shopping. Another shopping option is Cyber Monday, when online deals through retailers like Amazon entice people to spend money from their homes.

In contrast to these days that put billions of dollars in the pockets of corporations, people across America and in Green River are being encouraged to "shop small" this weekend with Small Business Saturday. For the Green River Chamber of Commerce, that encouragement extends to shopping small through the holiday season and the rest of the year.

"[For] every $100 that's spent in our local businesses, $68 stays in our local economy," Lisa Herrera, the Green River Chamber CEO, explained. "That's huge."

This year, the Chamber is promoting a "small business season," which kicked off last weekend with a ribbon cutting at the seventh annual Holiday Business Showcase. This year the event had "record numbers," according to Herrera, and the vendor booths, which showcase both storefront and home-based local businesses, were sold out months in advance.

"That event is a reminder for our community that we do have these wonderful places to buy gifts from, or services," Herrera said.

Shopping local provides jobs, helps the economy, and supports community organizations, according to Herrera. It also improves the quality of life for those who live here or those who might live here in the future, and it brings in tourists and tourism revenue.

"It takes all of us to be able to support each other and to keep those local dollars here," Herrera said.

Small business owners are also usually community members who are involved, active, and caring. Herrera pointed out local entrepreneurs are typically the ones the community turns to for help with community events.

"Our small businesses are passionate about our community," Herrera said. "They pour their hearts and souls into achieving their dreams."

Herrera also recognized that not everything you need can be bought in Green River every time, but she encouraged everyone to "shop local first."

Supporting small businesses also doesn't just mean buying all your Christmas presents locally. There are lots of different ways to shop small during the holiday season, such as buying a gift certificate, sharing social media posts from small businesses, leaving positive reviews online, eating at local restaurants and leaving a good tip, making a donation to a nonprofit, and more. Herrera encouraged everyone to think outside the box.

"Shop local, eat local, support local," she said. "There are so many ways that we can do this, and it's so important for us to be able to support our small businesses in town."

While the weekend after Thanksgiving is an especially busy time for shopping and a good time to shop small, Herrera hopes it goes beyond that.

"That's what we're promoting. . .to be able to support and spend local for the whole holiday season, not just one day," Herrera said.

While it goes beyond one day, shopping locally can still be encouraged and promoted by the one-day event of Small Business Saturday, which the Green River City Council recognized with a proclamation during the November 15 council meeting.

According to the proclamation, over 70% of consumers report Small Business Saturday "makes them want to encourage others to Shop Small at independently-owned retailers and 66% report that the day makes them want to Shop Small all year long."

"The city of Green River supports our local businesses that create jobs, boost our local economy, and preserve our communities," the proclamation said, and citizens were urged "to support small businesses and merchants on 'Small Business Saturday' and throughout the year."

Bonnie Tippie from Red White Buffalo spoke at the meeting to explain some of the events her business has been doing lately, such as the "Through the Window" events on Thursdays where they talk to local artists, which is livestreamed on Facebook.

Black Friday is designed for "big box stores," Tippie explained, and small businesses usually can't do things like offer 50% off. However, local stores can offer more personal touches, like Red White Buffalo will when they offer fresh-baked cookies so it will smell nice and be "a nice positive thing when people walk in the door."

Kayla Duncan, owner of Twisted Timber, also spoke at the council meeting, and said that spreading the word about local businesses is always appreciated, and local stores help each other out.

"Nobody shops at only one store," Duncan said, encouraging people to walk around downtown and check out all the different shops.

Mayor Pete Rust agreed, saying: "Look around, there's lots of things going on, lots of products, lots of things to get for Christmas, that you can get here locally."