By Conrad Dudderar
Staff Writer
With shipping and supply chain issues impacting the U.S., Yukon residents are being encouraged to “Think Big! Shop Small” for the Christmas shopping season.
The City of Yukon will observe “Small Business Saturday” on Nov. 27. The annual retail promotion falls between Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
“We hope our community will take the opportunity to focus on our small businesses every day – but specifically on Small Business Saturday,” Yukon Main Street director Vicki Davis said. “And to support our small businesses this year more than ever.
“It’s a smart thing to do with some of the shipping challenges that online shopping has presented. Our downtown businesses already have the merchandise. You’ll be able to walk in and walk out with no fear of not having your gifts before Christmas!”
All Yukon small businesses – particularly the Main Street merchants – will be the focus of the Small Business Saturday observance.
A national movement sponsored by American Express, the event supports locally owned “mom and pop” shops.
Yukon Main Street will have a special promotion for holiday shoppers Nov. 27. A list of participating retailers and restaurants will be posted Nov. 24 on Yukon Main Street’s social media sites.
“Many of them offer great specials and features for Small Business Saturday,” Davis pledged. “They’ll have promotions, free gifts and discounts. There’s so much going on that day.”
Participating merchants will give shoppers “Think Big! Shop Small” scratch cards featuring gifts and discounts at other downtown businesses.
Shoppers are encouraged to stop by the Yukon Main Street office, 528 W Main just west of Yukon City Hall, to pick up gifts and enjoy refreshments. The office will be open from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 27 for Small Business Saturday 2021.
PROCLAMATION PRESENTED
A “Small Business Saturday” proclamation was presented at the Nov. 16th Yukon City Council meeting inside the Centennial Building, 12 S 5th.
Vice Mayor Rick Cacini read the proclamation, which was accepted by Yukon Main Street representatives. Attendees included several new Yukon small business owners who opened their stores since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Ninety five percent of Small Business Saturday shoppers recognize the impact they can make by shopping small,” said Cacini, reading from the proclamation. “Eighty five percent of them also encourage friends and family to do so too.”
Yukon’s Main Street director stressed the importance of small businesses.
“When you ‘shop local’, you are investing the most of your purchases in your community,” Davis said. “Your money is not going to the franchises and national chains; it’s going to support those local businesses.
“And that’s not just the person who owns the business. That’s the property owner who pays property taxes. That’s the employees these businesses have and the jobs they provide.”
DID YOU KNOW?
Through the Small Business Saturday proclamation on Nov. 16, the City of Yukon “celebrates our local small businesses and the contributions they make to our local economy and community.”
The proclamation indicates:
- There are 31.7 million small businesses in the U.S. responsible for 65.1% of net jobs created from 2000-19.
- Small businesses employ 47.1% of private sector U.S. employees.
- 88% of U.S. consumers “feel a personal commitment” to support small businesses in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
- 92% of small business owners have pivoted the way they do business to stay open during the pandemic.
City of Yukon officials support local businesses that “create jobs, boost our local economy and preserve our community,” according to the city council proclamation.
Small businesses – collectively – are this community’s greatest industry, Davis noted.
“They are generating sales tax (revenue), supporting our school and little teams, and providing fundraisers for our local charity,” the Yukon Main Street chief said.
