Wednesday, November 24, 2010
 
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Downtown merchants offering specials this 'Small Business Saturday'

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[November 24, 2010]  This Saturday, shoppers who venture downtown to do Christmas shopping are going to be rewarded with some excellent unadvertised sales as local merchants celebrate "Small Business Saturday."

Across America, downtowns in small cities are dwindling in the number of retailers who can afford to keep their doors open.

Over the years there has been a lot of finger-pointing as to who is to blame for this. Some pin it on the big box stores, others voice resentment toward outlet malls and shopping centers, but consider this: America's downtowns are failing because we don't shop there when we could.

The city of Lincoln is blessed in that we have Ace Hardware, Big R, Dollar General, Dollar Tree, Family Dollar, Goody's, Walmart and many other businesses where we can shop for a wide variety of merchandise in a variety of price ranges designed to fit the needs of most any household budget.

As a community we should support those stores for a variety of reasons. They offer job opportunities to our citizens, they collect sales tax revenues that are used for the daily operations of our city and our county, and they provide convenience in that we really don't need to leave town to find most anything we might need or want.

Lincoln is also blessed in that we have a downtown area that is much more productive than many of the other communities throughout the country. The reason is that we have dedicated shop owners who do everything they can to provide products and services that you are interested in.

Another reason is that there are some who do shop downtown, and to those we say, "Kudos to you for supporting your local small businesses."

But for those who may not, we simply ask, Why not? With stores like Prairie Years, Abe's Carmelcorn, Action Rentals and Sales, Now & Then books, Cherished Memories, Beans & Such, Three Roses, Serendipity Stitches, Treasure Chest, Owl's Roost books, MKS Jewelers and Mary Todd Hallmark, all of whom offer excellent quality products in a wide variety of price ranges, isn't there more than a good chance that you could find gifts for everyone on this year's Christmas list right there on the square?

The downtown area is also host to hair and nail salons, day spas such as Absolute Harmony, a top-notch photographer in Brickey's, excellent thrift stores, and if you plan to redo a room before the holidays, don't forget Sherwin-Williams.

In addition to all this, we challenge you to work your way from the square outward and take a look at all the businesses you may find along the way, because there are literally too many to name, and they are all there to serve you.

Barbara Wold, author and business strategist, recently wrote an article for the national Main Street organization newsletter that touched on five important reasons for shopping downtown.

Here are some abbreviated excerpts from that piece that we hope will give you something to think about as you plan your shopping trips this year.

Here are the top five reasons to support a small business on Small Business Saturday:

Buying local creates jobs.

As the old saying goes, everyone talks about the weather, but nobody does anything about it. Well, the same could be said for jobs. We all want more jobs, but no one seems to be able to create them.

Half of all employees in the U.S. work for small business. Small businesses create 60 percent of all new jobs. By participating in Small Business Saturday (and small business Sunday through Friday too), you foster job creation in a very real and tangible way.

Small business fosters community.

What is a community, anyway? It is a group of people with something in common. When a downtown has a bustling small business district, it is usually said there is a strong community there, and conversely, when there are too many empty storefronts, it is bad for the community.

By buying local and supporting your neighborhood small businesses, you are fostering a strong community.

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Buying local keeps the dream alive.

A small business is someone's dream. It takes a lot of courage to leave the security of a 9-to-5 job and venture out on one's own. Being an entrepreneur is a risky enterprise that usually happens when someone's passion is so overpowering they cannot help but start their own business.

By supporting small business, you are allowing someone to live the dream another day.

Buying local boosts your local economy.

There is an economic ripple effect that occurs when you support a small business.

There are the employees with money in their pocket; they spend that money with other small businesses. Moreover, there is the business owner with profit in (his/her) pocket (who) spends that on buying more goods to sell, taking care of (a) family and on growing the business. That business pays taxes, which helps build roads and fund schools and the police.

Buying local creates an economic cycle that helps everyone.

Buying local creates a ripple in society.

Think about throwing a pebble into a still pond. It creates a concentric circle that starts small and then ripples out bigger and bigger, right? Well, that is exactly what happens when you support a local small business, and this ripple is different than the economic ripple. This is a spiritual/psychological ripple.

When a small business person succeeds, it is noticed. It may be a child who sees that dad didn't have such a kooky idea after all and that dreams do come true. Or it may be the entrepreneur's neighbor, who sees the successes and decides that he could do it too.

The ripple grows.

We hope that as you prepare to do your Christmas shopping you will give thought to these five points, and take a good look at everyone who is running a small business in Lincoln and Logan County. They are all dedicated to what they do, and they all appreciate your patronage.

On Saturday several downtown businesses will offer special items on sale or special storewide discounts.

Here is just a sample of what you might find if you make your way to the downtown area on Small Business Saturday:

  • Abe's -- special in-store discounts on select items

  • Action Rentals and Sales -- 20 percent discount storewide

  • Beans & Such -- 20 percent off Brooch notepads

  • Mary Todd Hallmark -- special in-store discounts on select items

  • MKS Jewelers -- Star and Snowflake discounts on select items

  • Serendipity Stitches and Custom Framing -- 20 percent off custom frames ordered on that day

  • The Treasure Chest -- 10 percent off on all ornaments

[By NILA SMITH]

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