Since 1992
Print and digital marketing
PHOTO: Kristina Cannon, executive director of Main Street Skowhegan, delivers #shopsmall week balloons. (Submitted photos)
SKOWHEGAN — In an effort to bolster support for local businesses this holiday season, Main Street Skowhegan is extending its Small Business Saturday Passport to Savings Program from one day to a full week — and giving away $300 in local gift cards to shoppers.
Skowhegan’s #ShopSmall Week will kick off on Small Business Saturday, Nov. 28, and run for eight full days, through Dec. 5. Participating businesses will be included for free in Main Street Skowhegan’s Passport to Savings, a booklet that details incentives and promotions at each merchant. Shoppers will use these passports to plan holiday shopping — this year for a full week versus just on Small Business Saturday.
“It’s extremely important to do all we can to support our local businesses during these difficult times,” said Kristina Cannon, executive director of Main Street Skowhegan, the nonprofit organization spearheading the event. “In addition to helping our local merchants to increase sales, we expect that incentivizing area residents to shop at locally owned businesses for a full week, instead of just on Small Business Saturday, will also reduce crowds and ensure that people feel and stay safe.”
Shoppers will not only get to take advantage of incentives at participating Skowhegan area businesses, they will also have the opportunity to win one of two $100 or two $50 gift cards to their favorite locally owned business. With each purchase at a participating merchant, the shopper’s name will be entered into a drawing for these gift cards. Thanks to support from sponsors, Main Street Skowhegan will buy $300 in gift cards from locally owned businesses selected by winners.
#ShopSmall Week promotions offered by businesses will include 10 to 25 percent off, in-store raffles, and free goodies. All incentives will be included in the Passport to Savings, available for pickup in Skowhegan the week of Thanksgiving or as a digital version on Main Street Skowhegan’s website.
Last year’s Small Business Saturday Passport to Savings Program yielded 787 purchases at 41 participating businesses. This year, more than 40 businesses have already confirmed.
“Gross sales at many local businesses are way down due to the pandemic,” said Cannon. “We can’t stress enough how important it is to make the conscious choice to get out and support our locally owned businesses, and hopefully our #ShopSmall passport program will help with that.
Skowhegan’s #ShopSmall Week is one of several efforts to support local businesses led by Main Street Skowhegan this year. In May, with the help of donors, Main Street Skowhegan awarded $20,000 in grant funding to 23 Skowhegan businesses, providing immediate relief to struggling businesses. Main Street Skowhegan also spearheaded the formation of the Community Economic Resource Council, a collaborative of regional economic development leaders that awarded $100,000 in varying grant amounts to 50 businesses in Somerset County this fall, thanks to the generosity of nearly a dozen donors.
To learn more about Main Street Skowhegan’s #ShopSmall Week Passport to Savings program, visit mainstreetskowhegan.org/small-business-saturday.
