Shopping locally is even more important now than ever before. The 2020 world-wide Coronavirus pandemic has brought home how much more important shopping with your local merchants is.
As they do every year, the Garretson Commercial Club is sponsoring a “Shop Garretson First” prize drawing with the Garretson Food Center. Each participating business has “Shop Garretson First...put your $$ where your Heart is!” punch cards so you can get a punch for every dollar you spend. These punch cards are put into a weekly drawing.
Already over the Thanksgiving Holiday, Ron Luke of the Garretson Food Center has drawn eight $25 gift winners. They are Kayleigh (last name unknown), Ryan Peterson, Julie Mueller, Bev Howe, Carol VanDeStroet, Brad Stensland, Steffanie Ihnegar, and Heather Holzapfel. Luke will draw four more this weekend and the final winners the weekend of Garretson Hometown Christmas on Dec. 12th. All winners will be contacted by phone and announced in this newspaper. (Subscribers to this newspaper should note that by renewing your subscription in November/December you’ll be automatically entered into this contest.)
Although all indoor activities for the Garretson Commercial Club’s Hometown Christmas have been canceled, including the community breakfast, kids crafts and model trains because of COVID-19 concerns, the Parade of Lights on Main and the Light the Park events will still be in full swing.
Senator Mike Rounds stated in a press release, “2020 has been a tough year for everyone. That is especially true for many main street businesses in South Dakota who closed their doors to the public temporarily due to the pandemic. For those small businesses, this holiday shopping season will be especially important. The National Retail Federation estimates that nearly 20 percent of a business’s sales come during the holiday season. With the pandemic taking its toll earlier this year, I anticipate that the support from holiday shopping will be more critical than ever before for many small businesses.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has caused many events to be cancelled this year, but it does not take away the opportunity to shop local during the holiday season. Communities across the country have found innovative ways to keep both business owners and customers safe,” wrote Halle Ramsey for Center for Rural Affairs. “The impacts of the pandemic have been detrimental for many of our main street businesses which make initiatives like Small Business Saturday even more timely.
“Almost two-thirds of small businesses have a website, according to the Small Business Administration. As you search for the perfect gifts, intentionally seek options local businesses have for online shopping. If that is not available, you can directly call the business owner. Chances are you or someone you know already have their number.”
Senator Rounds noted that he was looking forward to shopping at small businesses in Pierre. Several options are available in Garretson, including Garretson Bucks, which can be obtained at First Bank & Trust. Those are available in $5 denominations and can be used at any Commercial Club member in Garretson.
Senator Rounds had one more caveat to shopping locally. “But remember, be courteous and wear a mask when shopping so that both you and your neighbors can be safe.”
