Late Thursday and Friday, shoppers focused their bargain-hunting efforts on many of the larger stores and companies. Today, as the shopping season continues, shoppers are being asked to consider the smaller, locally-based businesses.
Today is “Small Business Saturday”, a movement started by the credit card company American Express seven years ago to help smaller businesses gain additional exposure and change the way shoppers buy during the holidays. Across the United States, there are over 28 million small businesses, and they make up 54% of all U.S. sales, and on average, for every $100 spent at local businesses, $68 stays with the local economy.
Downtown Indiana, Inc. is once again participating in the Small Business Saturday movement with the Downtown Dollars program. For every $10 spent at participating businesses, you receive $1 in Downtown Dollars back, and those Downtown Dollars can be used like cash during the remainder of the holiday season at participating businesses. Those businesses include:
- The 700 Shop
- 9th Street Deli
- Artist’s Hand Gallery and Espresso Bar
- Benjamin’s
- The Book Nook
- Brunzie’s
- Chateau Christine
- The Coney
- DD’s Unique Boutique
- Diamond Drug Store
- Europa Interiors and Gifts
- The Finery
- The Food Co-op of Indiana
- Gatti Pharmacy
- Gingerbread Man Running
- Lucy Rae Gifts
- Luxenburg’s Jewelers
- Michael B’s Shoes and Campus Corner
- Romeo’s Pizza
- Spaghetti Benders
- William and Mary Gift Shoppe
Also, this weekend is the second weekend of the First Commonwealth Bank“It’s A Wonderful Life Festival”. Vendors at IRMC park will include Boy Scout Troop 11, Family Promise, ATHENA Club of Marion Center, and the Sunday Concerts In The Park fund. This also is the first weekend of the Downtown Holiday Market pop-up store, open today from 10-7 and Sunday from 10-2. And playing at the Indiana Theater for the 12 movies of Christmas is “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” tonight at 7:00 and “Mickey’s Christmas Carol” and “The Smurfs Christmas” playing Sunday afternoon.
