JACKSON, Wyo. — To promote shopping local and small this holiday season, the Jackson Hole Chamber of Commerce, in conjunction with Rocky Mountain Bank, has announced Small Business Saturdays to take place every Saturday from Nov. 27 to Dec. 18.
The weekly programming & events, which will include free gift wrapping, local vendors, and Santa appearances, will become a staple in the schedule of holiday events.
Every Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., The Jackson Hole Chamber of Commerce and Rocky Mountain Bank will provide free gift wrapping for any locally-purchased items. Shoppers can drop off purchases at Town Square’s Stage Stop building and return within the day to pick up JH-branded and wrapped presents. Santa and carolers will join in the efforts by making safe appearances on Town Square and to nearby shops, and two local vendors will feature crafts, drinks, or treats each week.
“Small Business Saturdays” is part of a larger Chamber initiative to encourage and inspire shopping small and shopping local this holiday season. Winter Windfall, running from Nov. 26 to Dec. 18, incentivizes shopping local in participating locations by awarding 20 shoppers prizes of $400 each. And a Chamber-led social media campaign will showcase the people behind Jackson’s small, local businesses.
“The benefits of shopping local are incredible for our community,” said Director of Events Britney Magleby. “Shopping local in Jackson supports individuals and families that we see every day; it gives back to our community and nonprofits; it protects the environment we love.”
Small businesses represent 99.7% of businesses across the U.S., employing 57% of the country’s workforce. In Wyoming, more than 63,000 businesses are considered small businesses, employing over 132,000 Wyomingites. Statistics show that $68 of every $100 spent locally returns to our community, and local nonprofits receive up to 350% more funding from local businesses than from large corporations. Not to mention that local shopping saves thousands of pounds of waste and hundreds of thousands of shipping miles.
Other holiday events include the famous Town Square Lighting on November 26 and Santa on the Square from Dec. 12 to Dec. 24. Town Square Lighting can be watched from downtown or via live stream here. Please be aware that Santa will not be stopping on Town Square after the lighting, but will instead be visiting Jackson’s neighborhoods on a fire truck. For Santa on the Square, Santa will be safely on Town Square from 5-7 p.m. to visit and take pictures with children.
For more information on Small Business Saturdays or for additional business resources, email britney@jacksonholechamber.com. For all community events taking place during the holiday season, click here.
