Shopping locally is even more important now than ever before. The last few years have brought home how important shopping with your local merchants are, as they provide services that cannot be found anywhere else.
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.
Punch cards have officially begun, and Garretson Food Center’s Ron Luke will draw for winners beginning this weekend and the final winners will be drawn the weekend of Garretson Hometown Christmas on Dec. 9th. All winners will be contacted by phone and announced in this newspaper. (Readers of this newspaper should note that by starting or renewing your subscription in November you’ll be automatically entered into this contest.)
Hometown Christmas will be held December 9. Events include a vendor fair, arts and crafts, a community breakfast, a chili feed, and a parade of lights. All events and registration forms will be found at VisitGarretsonSD.com/hometown-christmas.
Shopping locally during the Christmas season is more important than ever. The National Retail Federation estimates that nearly 20 percent of a business’s sales come during the holiday season. This means the support from holiday shopping will be more critical than ever before for many small businesses.
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 has their number.
Several options for small business shopping are available in Garretson, including Garretson Bucks, which can be obtained at First Bank & Trust. Those are available in $5 denominations and can be given as a gift, as they can be used at any Commercial Club member business (businesses are listed on the back of the certificate).
Each winner receives a Commercial Club Gift Certificate for the amount stated below.
WEEK 1 – Drawing on Nov 19th 4 winners / $25 each.
WEEK 2 – Drawing on Nov 26th 4 winners / $25 each.
WEEK 3 – Drawing on Dec 3rd 4 winners / $25 each.
WEEK 4 – Drawing on Dec 9th 2 winners / $50 each.
