How to minimize holiday hosting stress
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Small Business Saturday is taking place Nov. 29, the Saturday after Thanksgiving, and several St. Cloud-area businesses are celebrating the major shopping day.
The national event, which started in 2010, is a way to support local businesses and has since become an important tool for small shops. This year, 79% of small businesses said this holiday season is important for their overall profit, according to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
Minnesotans can use this big shopping day to visit many St. Cloud-area shops, which are offering major sales, limited-edition items, giveaways and other special deals on Nov. 29.
Which St. Cloud businesses are hosting Small Business Saturday deals?
Several downtown St. Cloud shops are hosting many special events, sales and special items for its “Shop Small Saturday” event.
Books Revisited is offering a 20% off storewide sale and will be giving away a copy of “The Night Before Christmas” with every purchase. The shop will also offer refreshments and a free self-service book wrapping station.
Spice of Life Tea Shop customers who make a $50 purchase can choose an item from its “basket of goodies.” Every purchase will come with a small tea sampler. The shop will also offer sales on select items, and it is also selling a special gift basket that features items from downtown businesses, including teas, gift cards to White Horse and Green Thumb Etc. and books from Books Revisited. The baskets can be found at Spice of Life, Books Revisited and Green Thumb.
“(It’s) just a fun little collection of some of the downtown businesses in one basket,” owner of Spice of Life Tea Shop Terri Emmerich said.
Emmerich said Small Business Saturday is typically the biggest day of the year for the shop, and she loves seeing the community support.
“Besides it being a boost in our sales for the year, it’s also great to see how much the community comes out and supports the small businesses,” she said.
Also downtown, Seal Dwyer Counseling is hosting a Small Business Saturday Market that features local artisans, handmade items, performers, live music and free cookie decorating from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 29.
B-Side Indie Music Cafe is hosting another community market from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 29. The market features local artisans selling their handcrafted items. The coffee shop is also offering 10% off a drink with the purchase of a $10 gift card.
At Bella Vita Salt Caves, customers can purchase mystery self-care bags and enter a giveaway for a retreat that includes a 60-minute massage, two salt sessions and a gift basket.
Also downtown, Pickled Loon is offering an additional free $50 gift card with the purchase of a $50 gift card. The first 25 customers to spend $50 at Green Thumb Etc. will receive a $50 gift bag.
Vintage shop O’Brien’s Dry Goods is open normal hours for Small Business Saturday and will be selling an “overhaul of new inventory,” that day, Angie Paulson, one of the shop’s vendors, said.
“It’s a day for people to avoid your cookie cutter, big box stuff, and it really encourages them to come out and see… what their community has to offer,” she said.
Owner Chad O’Brien’s newest shop Metz & Co will also be opening on Black Friday at 623 W. St. Germain St., and gift certificates that can be used at both stores will be available.
Small Business Saturday outside of downtown St. Cloud
St. Cloud craft store 29 Stitches is hosting a joint event with bakery Bright North Events. The bakery will be selling its breads and other treats out of the shop Nov. 29.
In Sauk Rapids, home decor shop Copper Pony is offering several special deals for Small Business Saturday, including a free ornament with a $35 retail purchase, special coffee shop items and sales on candles, bread mixes and holiday tabletop items. The first 50 customers to make a minimum $10 retail purchase will also receive a free holiday cactus and canvas tote bag.
In Cold Spring, Little Sister’s Antiques is offering treats, prize drawings and a 10% off storewide sale for Small Business Saturday.
St. Joseph is hosting Shop Small Crawl on Nov. 29
St. Joseph is hosting its own Shop Small Crawl from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 29. Shoppers can fill out a punch card at participating businesses and turn it in for a chance to win a gift basket with items from the area’s businesses and artists. Some of the participating shops include Bruno Press, Bad Habit Brewing Company, White Peony Boutique and The House Food and Tap.
Flour & Flower will also be hosting a winter market on its newly added patio, with local vendors such as Pluck Flower Farm, Heavy Petal Vintage and Paper Mountain Jewelry, as well as mulled wine and hot cider served by Krewe.
Teagan King covers business and development for the St. Cloud Times. She can be reached at teking@gannett.com.
