Shopping local keeps cash in the community

For the third year, Richmond is participating in and supporting Small Business Saturday.

The day encourages holiday shoppers to spend money at local businesses, rather than national retailers.

SCORE, a national network of volunteer expert business mentors, recently released national statistics saying for every $100 spent at a local business, $68 stays in town, while only $43 of $100 spent at a national chain stays in the community.

Jessica Clark, who is coordinating the Small Business Saturday activities at the Richmond Municipal Building, said in this area, 73 cents of each dollar remains the the community.

Interest in the one-day event, annually on the first Saturday after Thanksgiving, is growing small business income. According to SCORE, on Small Business Saturday 2014, 88 million shoppers spent $14.3 billion.

Barb Cummins, owner of Black-Eyed Susan Home Expressions and Dance With Me Bridal & Occasion Wear in downtown Richmond, was one of those who benefited from Small Business Saturday last year.

A local group of men and women made a special visit to her stores on that day, festively filling the aisles and creating a line at the cash register.

"It was really nice just to feel the support of the community," Cummins said. "There are a lot of people that shop downtown now."

Cummins and several other downtown business owners recently offered a pampering night, with in-store specials and an opportunity for shoppers to create "wish lists" at each location. Before Christmas, the businesses will offer a shopping night when significant others can make use of those lists.

"It's another episode of people coming together to make something happen," Cummins said. "All the new businesses that have opened down here in this last year, it's tremendous. This community is really starting to grow."

To celebrate Small Business Saturday this year, Cummins is having special sales — 50 percent off in the home expressions store and sales on wedding dresses, with some priced as low as $99.

Cummins enjoys seeing customers on Small Business Saturday, but she also enjoys getting out and buying gifts from other businesses.

"We need to continue to support each other," Cummins said.

As part of Small Business Saturday activities, there will be carolers from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Wayne County and other organizations along East Main Street, and other special activities offered by businesses.

Small business owners who don't have a brick-and-mortar location will be connecting with the community at the Richmond Municipal Building. From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, vendors will have booths in the second (or main) level lobby area.

One of the booths that garnered lots of attention in last year will be back, as Second Chance Animal Rescue invites shoppers to adopt a pet, rather than buy, this holiday season. They will have several pets on site.

To help area residents find the perfect gifts at the perfect stores, a mobile phone app is available under Shop Small Richmond. It will help shoppers see what stores are around them or list the stores in a particular district, Clark said. The app also will provide the user with information about special promotions and coupons through push notifications.

"We want to educate people about the importance of shopping locally," Clark said.

In addition to the shopping activities, the Wayne County Convention and Tourism Bureau is supporting shopping at small businesses by having a Small Business Selfie Contest.

Participants must snap a selfie at any locally owned business and upload it to Facebook using the hashtag #SmallBusinessSelfie, or directly upload the photo to the Visit Richmond — Indiana Facebook page. The winner will receive a basket full of Wayne County items, coupons and a $25 Visa gift card.