Shopping small: City of Fishers encourages residents to stay local for gifts

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Some of the Shop Fishers vendors pause with their businesses’ shopping bags and apparel. Approximately 40 vendors are taking part in Shop Fishers Nov. 25. (Photos by Sadie Hunter)

Although local stores’ items might not be the next big toy on top of kids’ wish lists for the holidays, the City of Fishers is again encouraging residents to stay local with shopping for the city’s third annual Shop Fishers event Nov. 25.

Small Business Saturday occurs the day after Black Friday and was created by American Express. Fishers has furthered the initiative and, for its third year, has lined up 40 vendors, each with offering unique deals.

Assistant Director of Public Relations Casey Cawthon said this year’s Shop Fishers is a bit different because event promotion began earlier than past years.

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The interior of MJ Layne on the east side of Fishers. This is owner, Michele Lauer’s third Shop Fishers event. (Submitted photo)

“We really wanted to make sure we had ample time to inform residents about this,” Cawthon said. “Shop Fishers is the busiest day of the year (for businesses) and we wanted to make sure we gave enough time to promote this to our residents.”

Each participating business will have a window cling in its window and will give out free shopping bags, lip balms and thermoses as supplies last.

Shop Fishers has taken strides to make sure all businesses feel included, not just those with storefronts. For example, the Pint Cycle is participating this year even though it doesn’t have a store. Other participants include restaurants, boutiques, salons, gyms and more.

“There really is diversity in businesses participating, which makes it easier for people to shop Fishers and buy gifts for people,” Cawthon said.

Michele Lauer, owner of MJ Layne on the east side of Fishers, is participating in her third Shop Fishers.

“I have grown tremendously every year. My customers love it and it’s almost as if they come by the bus-load now,” Lauer said. “A lot of people end up with me at the end of the day. I always try to treat people with a gift with (a) purchase.”

Lauer’s boutique opens normally at 11 a.m. on Saturdays, but she’s opening an hour early and said she will stay open as long as people keep shopping.

Christian Hamm, owner/operator of the new Smoothie King in downtown Fishers, is participating for the first time this year. Smoothie King is a national brand, but Hamm and his wife are Fishers residents and he stresses how important a local concept is to him.

“We are working toward being engaged in the community and being an integrative part of the community,” he said.

Although Shop Fishers takes place Nov. 25, times vary because each business is different. For a full list of participating businesses and their deals, visit fishers.in.us/shopfishers or download the Nickel Plate District mobile app. A map also will be available on the app.

A different take on shopping small

Citizens State Bank, 9 Municipal Dr., Suite 5, is participating in Shop Fishers. Although a bank can’t give deals on money, it is partnering with the Fishers Youth Assistance Program to provide gift wrapping for those shopping small from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 25.

Lisa Allen, a board member for Fishers YAP, said YAP board members and possibly some bank staff will  wrap gifts for a small donation to YAP.

“We will be inside their bank and we will have a wrapping station for people to bring in what they purchased locally and we will wrap them asking for a small donation to the Fishers YAP,” Allen said. “We will also have hot cider there and sugar cookies available to decorate. It’s promoting Fishers YAP and helping out the community. We are hoping to raise some money and also create more awareness about what we do and who we are.”

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