Above / From Nov. 28 to Dec. 29, the Grinch will be around Naperville encouraging locals to “grow your heart three sizes.” Stop by Anderson’s Bookshop for everything you need to know about the special IndieBound Naperville holiday promotion. Then look for the Grinch in the Little Friends Parade of Lights, 5PM, Sun. Nov. 29.
Shop locally to support Small Business Saturday on Nov. 28, but don’t stop then…Â
Even before it was big business to promote Small Business Saturday, this independent publication was launched in 2001 to help promote small businesses and the importance to shop locally.
Then came IndieBound Naperville, founded locally in 2008, to begin an organized campaign to heighten awareness about the value to the community when sales revenues stay in your hometown.
For seven years, the bright red IndieBound Naperville sign has found a prominent place in store windows to help showcase Naperville’s independent business community, including long-established retail shops such as Dean’s Fine Clothing, Anderson’s Bookshops and Dog Patch Pet & Feed.
With the holidays fast approaching, consumers are encouraged to go out of their way to support small businesses by shopping locally during Small Business Saturday on Nov. 28, 2015.
According to promotional materials sent to this publication, Small Business Saturday was first launched in 2010 “as a call for shoppers to patronize local, community merchants.” Since then, Small Business Saturday has grown. Some reports say the initiative turned out 88 million consumers in 2014 who spent an estimated $14.3 billion at small independent businesses.
When shoppers support local businesses, it’s estimated 45 to 68 cents of every dollar spent at a small or independent locally owned business stays in your local community.
All that is good to know.
What’s more, shopping locally helps create local jobs. Local businesses are better at creating entry level, part-time and full-time jobs while creating higher paying jobs for residents, entrepreneurs (possibly your family, friends and neighbors) that contribute to community causes year round.
And while it’s great for major credit card companies to have picked up the banner to promote shopping locally and small on a special day, the aim of PN, Naperville Development Partnership, Dine Naperville, Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce and IndieBound Naperville is to raise the banner every day simply to remind folks to shop locally.
And in the words on the IndieBound Naperville bookmark and commercial, “Put your money where your heart is.” Support businesses in your hometown no matter what day it is and whenever possible.
Many local businesses offer online sales
Also, if online purchases are your preference, many local businesses offer online sales, too. Cyber Monday can be spent contacting local online businesses.
For instance, just in time for the holidays, Blooming Color has introduced its new online division for ordering greeting cards and a variety of other printed products any time of the year with quick 72-hour turnaround, including delivery to home or office.
“At www.bloomingcolorcards.com, you will design your cards online, dropping in your photos and text, and simply order right from your computer, tablet, or even your mobile phone,” said Ray Kinney of Blooming Color.
The pieces are printed locally at the Blooming Color production facility in Lombard with the promise the cards will be delivered as soon as 48 hours later.
“We are priced competitively with the online brands you are already familiar with, but with the advantage of speedy and local manufacturing brought to you by the team of people at Blooming Color you already know and love… Or at least we hope you do,” Kinney quipped.
Now through December 15, Blooming Color is offering folks to try the site and receive a 40 percent off discount using code BLOOMING40.
Above / Bell-ringing volunteers for the Salvation Army are stationed this time of year at the entrance to Casey’s Foods. Inside, the independent supermarket is decked out for the holidays, collecting gifts for the Little Friends Giving Tree until Dec. 11, 2015. Also, the gourmet deli offers online ordering “to go.“
Indieboundnaperville.org
For other opportunities to shop online, visit the IndieBound Naperville website where more than 125 local independents are linked. Visit their websites and you’ll find many of them also feature online offers and experiences such as making appointments, ordering food to go and delivery.
Meanwhile, whether Small Business Saturday or any other day of the year thereafter, remember to become acquainted with your local business community, chock full of unique, interesting and service-minded enterprises that have helped create this popular destination to live, work and entertain.
One more thing. Always be mindful that it’s essential to your local economy to support local businesses, small and large, no matter where you live.
RELATED POST / Think local!  Find the Grinch here! Seize the opportunity to educate youngsters about the importance of supporting the local business community.
