BUT WE SAW SHOPPERS AROUND THE
METRO, AND MOST SAID THEY WERE
HUNTING FOR BARGAINS.
SALES ARE EXPECTED TO INCREASE
THIS YEAR.
AND OF COURSE SMALL BUSINESS
SATURDAY IS A WONDERFUL TIME TO
SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESSES IN
YOUR COMMUNITY.
WITH SO MANY STRUGGLING TO STAY
AFLOAT DURING THE PANDEMIC, IT
MAY BE MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER
TO TAKE PART.
CHRISTY IS JOINING US FROM THE
VISITORS CENTER THIS MORNING,
AND WE ARE SO GLAD YOU'RE
JOINING US.
GOOD MORNING.
>> GOOD MORNING.
WELCOME TO MAIN STREET,
STILLWATER.
WE HAVE 100 DIFFERENT
INDEPENDENTLY OWNED BUSINESSES
WITH SHOPPING AND DINING, AND
WE'D LOVE TO WELCOME YOU HERE.
THEY ARE ALL LOCALLY OWNED.
>> THE IDEA TODAY IS SHOP
SMALL.
WHAT TYPES OF SHOPS DO YOU HAVE
THERE?
>> YES, WE HAVE ABOUT 40
BUSINESSES THAT ARE BOUTIQUES.
SO WE HAVE EVERYTHING YOU NEED
VINTAGE GOODS, CULINARY WARES,
LOCAL ARTISANS, IDEAS FROM BABY
TO GRANDMA, WE HAVE SOMETHING
FOR YOU.
>> WE ARE ALL LOOKING FOR IDEAS
RIGHT NOW.
I KNOW I AM.
WHAT ABOUT THE COVID
PRECAUTIONS THAT ARE BEING
TAKEN AT THOSE SMALL STORES?
SAFE.
MAKE SURE YOU PACK YOUR MASK
BECAUSE THAT'S REQUIRED
INDOORS.
SOCIAL DISTANCING, THERE'S HAND
WASHING STATIONS RIGHT WHEN YOU
SOME OF THE SHOPS EVEN OFFER
PRIVATE SHOPPING OPPORTUNITIES.
WHAT'S BEST IS THAT ALL THE
STORES TEND TO BE SMALLER, AND
YOU'LL NEVER RUN INTO THOSE
CROWDS YOU'LL SEE AT THE BIG
STORE.
AND BETWEEN SHOPS YOU GET THAT
NICE FRESH AIR.
>> AND CAN YOU ALSO SHOP SMALL
ONLINE?
>> EXCELLENT QUESTION.
SOME OF THE THEM HAVE ONLINE
PRESENCE, AND ANOTHER WAY TO
SUPPORT THEM IS THINK ABOUT THE
HOTELS AND SALONS AND BOAT
TOURS, AND YOU CAN PURCHASE
GIFT CERTIFICATES ONLINE AS
GIFTS.
THEM.
>> LET'S TALK ABOUT HOW THE
PANDEMIC HAS AFFECTED SMALL
BUSINESSES THIS YEAR.
I KNOW IT'S BEEN INCREDIBLY
CHALLENGING.
>> YES, IT'S BEEN VERY HARD ON
THE TOURISM AND HOSPITALITY
INDUSTRY.
IN STILLWATER BY LATE SUMMER
AND FALL, WE WERE DOING WELL
BECAUSE PEOPLE WANTED A
VACATION DESTINATION IN A SMALL
TOWN.
WE HAVE AMAZING OUTDOOR DINING
AND WE WERE BLESSED WITH THE
OPENING OF THE HISTORIC LIFT
BRIDGE AND BIKE TRAIL.
SO WE GOT A GOOD BOOST.
FOR WINTER, WE NEED YOU TO GET
OUT AND SHOP SMALL TODAY AND
EVERY DAY.
>> WHAT IS THE HOPE FOR SMALL
BUSINESS SATURDAY?
>> WELL, WE HAVE TO THINK OF IT
YEAR ROUND TO SUPPORT LOCAL.
BUT TODAY WHAT WE HAVE GOING ON
IS SALES AND SPECIALS IN ALL
THESE STORES.
YOU'LL GET JUST AS GOOD A DEALS
AS YOU WOULD AND LITTLE PERKS
LIKE FREE GIFT WRAP.
AND WE HAVE CAROLERS ON THE
CORNERS.
WE LIKE TO MAKE IT VERY FESTIVE
HERE, SO FROM 11:00 TO 1:00
THERE WILL BE VICTORIAN
CAROLERS THROUGHOUT THE
DOWNTOWN.
AND SATURDAYS IN DECEMBER YOU
CAN ENJOY A FREE HORSE-DRAWN
CARRIAGE RIDE.
>> WHAT IS THE THEME AND WHAT
CAN PEOPLE DO?
>> WE DON'T HAVE THE BEAUTIFUL
SNOW BUT THE SILVER LINING IS
THAT THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY
COLLABORATED.
WINTER IS ALWAYS TOUGH.
EVERYTHING HERE IS OPEN EXCEPT
THE RIVER IN THE WINTER.
WE HAVE A LOT OF ANNOUNCEMENTS
TO MAKE AND WE ARE WORKING ON
SOMETHING CALLED WINTERTIME IN
STILLWATER.
WE ARE ADDING A TON OF TWINKLE
TO THIS DOWNTOWN AREA, LINING
THE TOPS OF THE BUILDINGS AND
EXTRA LIGHT SHOWS SET TO MUSIC
FOR PEDESTRIANS.
THERE WILL BE AN ICE SKATING
RINK AND NEW EVENTS, AND IT
WILL BE A GORGEOUS PLACE TO
COME AND TAKE A STROLL BY THE
RIVER AND EXPERIENCE A GREAT
TOWN IN THE WINTER.
>> WONDERFUL TO GET THAT