10A • COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL • NOVEMBER 21, 2018
SHOP LOCAL Holidays
for
the
The Gift that Keeps on Giving
Shopping local is the ultimate gift you can give your communi-
ty and it is an incredibly patriotic act. By shopping local, you
keep your money local, investing in the place that invests in
you. Read on for some inspiring reasons to shop local.
and products that they know will sell well. By purchas-
ing from small businesses, you are helping to dictate
the items they sell, as well as their overall success in the
community.
You Make Your Town the Place to Be
Local shops and businesses are what give a town its fl avor. By
spending money in local shops — especially those that support
local makers — you are making a statement that you appreciate
those trades and would like to see them remain in the area. Sup-
porting those businesses can even attract more people to your area.
Towns and cities with vibrant downtown areas are hot spots during
the shopping season, resulting in more revenue for many related
businesses, organizations and tourism bureaus.
You Support Your Neighbors
Well, maybe not technically your neighbors, but defi -
nitely others who live in your area. Not only do small
businesses account for more than 99 percent of all the
business in the country (that is a lot of jobs), but they
support and give to local programs. One of the most pop-
ular ways small businesses give back is through sponsor-
ing little league teams and major community events. And
shopping local doesn’t stop at purchasing gifts. Consider
shopping local with your groceries or opening up a sav-
ings account at a local bank to save for your Christmas
shopping all year round.
You Help Shape Your Community
A community’s small businesses are what give a town or city its
heart; these are places that help shape your town’s character and
personal brand. Locally owned businesses tend to stock the items
Shop Local Fast Facts
Shopping local has become on trend thanks in large part to
nationwide marketing campaigns. In fact, Small Business Sat-
urday has become a shopping holiday in its own right — and
fares well against its more big-box competitors Black Friday
and Cyber Monday.
This is what it means to shop local in the United States.
Small Business Saturday
• Small Business Saturday started in 2010. That year, the event
was sponsored and promoted by American Express to encourage
the growth of small businesses.
• Small Business Saturday took a dip in 2017, both in foot traffi c
and in overall dollars spent. The shopping holiday saw 108 million
shoppers who spent approximately $12.9 billion, which according
Black Friday &
Small Business Saturday Sale
MYSTERY
DISCOUNTS
Up to 30% off entire
purchase of gift ,
clothing, & accessories
to the National Federation of Independent Business and American
Express, is 4 million shoppers and more than $3 billion less than
the year before.
• The state-by-state breakdown of the day shows that a majority of
participation was through restaurants and bars, with 41 percent of
people dining local. This was followed by purchases of clothing
and accessories from small businesses (24 percent), grocery stores
(23 percent) and then coffee shops (22 percent).
• While some shoppers won’t purchase items directly on Shop
Small Saturday, the shopping holiday has defi nitely increased
small business awareness. People have begun to shop small on
other days and more consistently throughout the year.
Shopping Small
• You may have already heard more mainstream statistics regard-
ing your dollars (such as when you spend $100 at a local business,
approximately $68 stays in the local economy, rather than just the
$43 if you would spend that same money at a big-box store.). But
did you also know that small businesses accounted for more than
half the jobs that have been created in the last decade?
• Additionally, small businesses donate 250 percent more than cor-
porate businesses to non-profi ts and to community-based causes,
according to the Seattle Good Business Network.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS
Cottage Grove Christmas Kickoff
is the First Saturday in December!
A Cottage Grove Family Tradition
Sat., Dec. 1st - Activities all day
5PM Tree Lighting at
All America City Square
Full Event Schedule available
at C.G. Visitor Center
A Cottage Grove
Chamber Event
Sip on warm cider and enjoy
a cookie while you shop
at Cottage Grove’s Locally
Owned Florist, Clothing &
Gift Boutique
with so much more!
2018
Featuring Handcrafted Gifts, International Food Court, & Live Music
Lane Events Center • Free Admission • Free Parking
Weekends: Nov. 17-18•23-25 • Dec. 1-2•8-9•15-16•22-24
Hours: 10am -6pm (closing at 4pm on Dec 24th) Visit www.holidaymarket.org
DONATE NOW!
Maximize your donation by donating
to Cars for a Cause by Dec. 31st.
We accept cars, trucks, RVs, boats
& motorcycles CALL NOW!
HAND HELD BLOWERS
Starting at
$139.99
10 Year
Non-Prorated
Warranty
Free mattress pad with purchase
615 Main Street • Cottage Grove • 541-942-8711
•Helps those in need in Lane County
• Charitable donation
•We do all the paperwork
St. Vincent de Paul
1175 Hwy 99 North, Eugene • 541-607-4541
STOCK# BG55