Churchill merchants ready for Small Business Saturday

Since its beginnings in 2010, American Express Small Business Saturday has encouraged shoppers to spend local on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, and during one of the busiest shopping times of the year, shoppers are reminded to celebrate and support small businesses and all they do for their communities.

The Fallon Chamber of Commerce and the Churchill Entrepreneurial Development Association (CEDA) invite shoppers to start their day with a visit to the Old Post Office at 90 N. Maine St. Beginning at 8 a.m. their welcome booth will have vendors, doughnuts and free coffee sponsored by Telegraph Coffee & Tap. Mobile bar The Tipsy Tumbleweed will also be on site selling mimosas and Baileys & coffee.

Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Lucy Carnahan said the local favorites Small Business Bingo and Gurka in Business games are back for another year. A $5 purchase in a participating store earns a spot on the bingo card included with each packet from the welcome booth. A list of businesses that have hidden a Greenwave gurka is also included. Shoppers need to visit the store, find the gurka and post a selfie with the hashtag #GurkaInBusiness to earn entries to a raffle drawing at the end of the day.

Other social media hashtags for the day’s events are #ChamberAtWork, #SupportFallonBiz, #ShopSmall and #LiveLocalFallon.

A 2022 Small Business Saturday Consumer Insights Survey released by American Express stated about 72% of shoppers said Small Business Saturday encourages them to shop and dine locally at small, independently-owned retailers and restaurants.

Overall, Small Business Saturday resulted in an estimated $17.9 billion in 2022. The survey further concluded more than two-thirds or 72% of shoppers strongly stated they will continue to shop the small businesses throughout the holiday season because of the impact it has on local communities.

On Small Business Saturday, many shops will feature their specialties including the downtown gift shop Let Us Charm You, which will be open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Shoppers will receive $5 off when they spend $30 or more. Customers who spend an additional $15 will also receive a pin of a gnome wearing a tiny knitted cap created especially for the event.

Located at 153 S. Maine St., Let Us Charm You is filled from floor to ceiling with unique locally handmade gifts. Items including jewelry, Christmas ornaments and decorated glassware are available, as well as a large assortment of yarn and crafting tools.

Shop owner and creative expert Annette Whayn-Haling curates and creates the collection. She can often be found in her shop working on her latest project while chatting with customers about theirs.

Whayn-Haling also accepts custom orders at the shop, by phone at 775-412-7189 or email at letuscharmu@gmail.com.