MATTHEW KLEBES, director of The Dalles Main Street, demonstrates how the Shop Small promotional campaign will work. He said shoppers are being challenged to use arrows available at businesses to point out good bargains on social media. In turn, shops can use the arrows to guide customers to discount items.
MATTHEW KLEBES, director of The Dalles Main Street, demonstrates how the Shop Small promotional campaign will work. He said shoppers are being challenged to use arrows available at businesses to point out good bargains on social media. In turn, shops can use the arrows to guide customers to discount items.
Matthew Klebes, director of The Dalles Main Street, is promoting a new campaign that allows community members to show support for small businesses downtown.
“Shop Small Saturday” takes place Nov. 28 and Klebes believes it will create an interactive opportunity for customers.
People purchasing items at a local shop are encouraged to use special arrows available at businesses to point out their good bargain and then take a photo.
Klebes said having the picture, with an accompanying hashtag, posted on social media will tell other residents where to go to get a deal on holiday gifts.
Businesses, in turn, can use the arrows to showcase bargains.
Shopping bags with the “Shop Small” theme will be available at participating stores or can be picked up at Main Street’s new office, 701 East Second Street, Suite 3.
“We have joined a national effort that happens every year right after Thanksgiving and Black Friday, when the holiday shopping season gets underway,” said Klebes.
He signed up for the program encouraged by the U.S. Small Business Administration and received boxes of arrows and
shopping bags to use in the program. The Dalles Area
Chamber of Commerce is
actively involved in the effort — and also received promotional items — with the expanded focus of getting customers to support small businesses throughout town.
American Express started Shop Small in 2010 as a counterpart to Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
The program focuses on small businesses as the “backbone of America.”
“This is a day to thank our many small businesses for everything they do in our community,” said Klebes.
According to the SBA, small businesses create about two-thirds of net new jobs and generate about 46 percent of U.S. gross domestic product.
As of the 2010 Census, there were 27.9 million small businesses registered in the U.S. in
contrast to 18,500 companies of 500 employees or more. Almost half of the nation’s private sector workforce — about 120 million people — is employed by small businesses.
On the local front, Klebes said there are 220 small businesses on Second, Third and Fourth streets in The Dalles.
The chamber kicks off its “Shop Local” campaign on Black Friday, Nov. 27, and Klebes will also be marketing that program.
“Our small businesses donate to schools, sports programs and other activities happening in this area so it is important that we return that support,” he said.
People looking to get in the holiday spirit are invited to join Klebes’ volunteer force to string Christmas lights on downtown lamp poles and trees.
Anyone wanting to help out can show up at the old Griffith Motors dealership on Third Street at 7 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 24. That project is also in partnership with the chamber, as well as the city and port.
For more information on Main Street, or the holiday programs, call Klebes at 541-370-2966 or access the website, www.thedalles mainstreet.org.
Commented
Sorry, there are no recent results for popular commented articles.