Keep Marquette County in mind when holiday shopping

Posted by Lake Superior Community Partnership on November 21, 2016

Amy Clickner The year has flown by! I can’t believe it is Thanksgiving week already! I am sure by now you’ve seen the TV commercials, newspaper ads and social media posts promoting holiday shopping. With so many shopping options out there, I hope you’ll consider spending as much as you can locally this year.

While the day after Thanksgiving is Black Friday, the busiest shopping day of the year, Saturday has become known as Small Business Saturday. This year marks the 7^th anniversary of the shopping holiday sponsored by American Express. At the LSCP, we know how important it is to shop locally and support these small businesses.

Here are a few stats from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) from 2014 that show just how impactful small business is in a community:

There are 23 million small businesses in the country.
Small businesses have increased by 49% since 1982.
54% of U.S. sales happen at small businesses.
Small businesses have created 8 million jobs since 1990.
Franchised small businesses employ roughly 8 million people and make up 40% of all American retail jobs.

Consider this, if you spend $100 at a local business, roughly $68 stays in your local economy (Civic Economics Study in Grand Rapids, MI). That is nearly 70% of every dollar spent that will stay here!

In Marquette County, there are several programs and incentives that encourage shopping locally.

One that you may recall me writing about in the past is our “Key to the County” program. All LSCP partner businesses receive keys for their staff that offer discounts at over 50 businesses throughout the area. There are discounts on retail, dining and services at a variety of businesses year round. Any LSCP partner business is able to provide a discount to other LSCP partners. Visit www.marquette.org, click participate and key to the county.

This year, both the Greater Ishpeming Negaunee Area Chamber of Commerce (GINCC) and the Marquette Chamber of Commerce are participating in a “Be Local, Buy Local” program to encourage our community to keep dollars local. Visit belocalbuylocal.today for information on how you can participate and win gift certificates. They have even made it as easy as downloading an app on your phone to participate. Check it out!

Shopping in western Marquette County? Remember to turn in your receipts to the GINCC (910 US Hwy 41 W, Ishpeming) from now until December 20. For every $50 you spend locally, you will be entered in a drawing to win prizes. Just another way to support your locally owned businesses!

In addition to Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday, you may have heard of Giving Tuesday. This is a day to make a donation to a nonprofit organization that you are passionate about. It could be money, time or any gift. With so many amazing nonprofits in Marquette County, I encourage you to take time to participate in this day as well. Take this day to do some research on a nonprofit you may not be familiar with or ways to get involved in our nonprofit community that serves our county year round!

I wish you and your family a safe and blessed Thanksgiving week. This weekend and throughout the holiday season, the LSCP encourages you to support the small businesses and organizations that support and invest in our community!

Amy Clickner, CEO, writes a bi-weekly column for the Mining Journal.