Small Business Saturday will add a unique feature this year.
The City of Noblesville, Noblesville Chamber of Commerce, Nickel Plate Arts and Noblesville Main Street have combined to form the Love Noblesville Network, which will present a livestream shopping event from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Nov. 28. The event will be streamed on Noblesville Main Street’s Facebook page.
The event will feature Noblesville’s small businesses, artisans and organizations in pre-recorded or live in-studio segments. There will be tours of businesses and restaurants. In addition, there will be live music, special guests and artisan features.
Small Business Saturday was created in 2010 by American Express to encourage shoppers to shop local instead of at big box stores. It is always the Saturday after Thanksgiving.
“Small Business Saturday has always been a big day for our local retailers and a fun day for our residents,” Noblesville Chamber of Commerce CEO Bob DuBois said. “Together with our Love Noblesville Network organization, we are taking steps to ensure the spirit and impact of Small Business Saturday continues. Our webcast, online marketplace and universal gift card will together provide Noblesville residents the tools they need to support our small businesses and our neighbors.”
Nickel Plate Arts Executive Director Aili McGill said the event is even more crucial during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Small Business Saturday is often the single-most profitable day in the year for small shops and artisans, and in this year, where small stores have been so challenged by COVID-19 restrictions and the downturn in the economy, it’s more important than ever,” McGill said. “Many artisans in the Nickel Plate Arts network make more than 50 percent of their profits for the year in the fourth quarter of the year, and most of those profits come in on Small Business Saturday. This year, many artisans are balancing in-person shopping opportunities with online sales.
“No matter how you support them, please consider shopping from local small businesses this year that will keep your money in your community and ensure that our local arts and cultural businesses stay open.”
Lorna Oskouie, executive director of Noblesville Main Street, said the small business celebration is one of her favorite days of the year.
“It is not only the official start of the Christmas season but it is such a demonstration of everyone coming together to support our downtown,” Oskouie said. “Business owners and all of our organizations have been working together since August to come up with a plan to safely have shoppers downtown or online all day as this Small Business Saturday is more important than most.”
For more, visit noblesvillechamber.com.
Discounts, hours vary for deals
Although it’s billed Small Business Saturday, many merchants are starting their sales Nov. 27 (Black Friday) and extending it to a few days.
Rhonda King, who opened Thistle & Thyme Home Store, 29 S. 9th St., in July, said customers will receive a 10 percent discount all weekend. There will be free curbside pickup and free local delivery within 10 miles.
She said customers may enter a drawing for a $25 gift certificate.
“Our store has sponsored a family of six for the holidays,” King said. “Our customers may donate $5 and receive a handmade ornament, made by our very own elves. It will be a blessing to both the family and our customers to give and receive. Our project is called ‘Shim-Shim-A-Tree.’ Our handmade ornaments are painted wooden shims and designed to hang on a Christmas tree, doorknob or anywhere you desire to hang it.”
Jayson Manship, owner of Moonshot Games, 50 N. 9th St., pointed out the big box stores have extended their Black Friday deals throughout an entire month this year.
“It’s smart in that it minimizes crowds for COVID, but it also makes it really hard on brick-and-mortar, mom-and-pop retail stores to compete against a month of deals,” Manship said. “I’m excited that the city, chamber and Noblesville merchants are thinking about driving people downtown in a coordinated yet responsible way. The pandemic has been rough for most small businesses, so I’m really encouraged by the outpouring of support to shop local this holiday season. It means the world to us.”
Manship said Moonshot plans to offer special events and deals on Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, Kids Adventure Sunday, Cyber Monday and Giving Tuesday.
“Black Friday we’ll have doorbuster deals starting at 5 a.m. and will have mega deals on known games from big brands,” Manship said. “Small Business Saturday we are offering sweet deals on puzzles, toys and more. Sunday is a day full of fun programming for kids: Pokémon, a magic show and a princess scavenger hunt. And we’ll be giving out free gifts each day just for stopping in.”
Amber Noone, owner of Bash Boutique, 884 Logan St., will offer a free gift with a $75 purchase.
“Small Business Saturday is extremely important to us because it allows us to thank our loyal customers for supporting local businesses and appreciating having us in their cities, and we can offer specials that give our customers extra incentives for shopping with us,” Noone said.
