Now that the holiday season is upon us, I want to encourage everyone to shop local. In Vermilion, local stores provide the majority of jobs for our residents. Our local shops are very friendly and you will usually be able to find what you are looking for or the shops would be willing to order it for you. In 2010, Small Business Saturday began a nationwide campaign to assist local businesses around the country. Small Business Saturday will be held the Saturday after Thanksgiving, November 25 and really brings awareness to the importance of shopping your own community. Once you start shopping local, you will find out how easy it is to find items and gifts. We are fortunate to have so many small businesses located in our community and we need to promote them.
Many of our local businesses are busy in the summer season when all the tourists are here, but come winter time, they are completely dependent on our hometown residents to sustain them through the winter season.
Local businesses have invested in the community and care about the future of our town. Our hometown is very important to them and to us. That is why they have located a business here. While you are out, don’t forget about the hometown restaurants and other service businesses. Buy a gift certificate from the restaurants or for services or memberships in Vermilion. You can even buy a gift certificate for our community swimming pool.
The Vermilion Chamber of Commerce and Main Street Vermilion are always reminding us of the importance of shopping local. Many events are planned for the holiday season. Santa arrives on Saturday, November 25th at Exchange Park at 11 AM. There is a Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony Saturday, November 25th at 7 PM in Victory Park. The “Light Up Vermilion” holiday shopping night is Thursday, December 7. The stores will have extended business hours with special discounts and deals for holiday shoppers. Main Street will be hosting an OPEN HOUSE that evening with a chance for families to write letters to Santa and create a holiday craft. The Vermilion Chamber of Commerce will have Christmas Trees available for sale during December in front of the Old Town Hall, 736 Main Street. You can also have your Christmas Tree delivered on the Christmas Tree Ship on Saturday, December 2 at McGarvey’s Landing. Pay attention to your newspaper for all that is going on in Vermilion during the holiday season.
Remember that all our local businesses throughout the entire City create local employment for our citizens. They also are always being approached for donations and are most generous in their support of our local charities, schools and community events. By supporting local shops, you make a financial impact in our community.
I think you will be pleasantly surprised to find out how much Christmas shopping can be done without leaving our hometown. So please shop local, enjoy all our festivities and have a wonderful holiday season in our Great Town on a Great Lake!
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