Mayor Gaylor Baird celebrates local businesses, kicks off ‘Shop Local Days’

“I Leirion Gaylor Baird mayor of the city of Lincoln, Nebraska do proclaim the holiday gift giving season as shop local days and encourage residents of our community to support local business and merchants throughout the year,” says Mayor Gaylor Baird at the kick off of the shop local days.

This year’s kick off was held at the Lincoln Running Company, which has been locally owned and operated in downtown Lincoln for over 40 years.

“We don’t just sell shoes, we don’t want to just do that, yeah its a big part of our business but we want more of that relationship with our customers, we want to know them by their first names,” says Lincoln Running Company owner Chris Rogers.

Gaylor Baird and city officials recognize and celebrate the role that local business play for citizens and the city of lincoln.

“The role that we play also we hire people, we pay taxes and we contribute monetarily to the community but i think we really contribute to the community spirit,” says Leslie Huerta, owner of Francie & Finch Bookshop.

Business owners like Rogers and Huerta say they appreciate the support from shoppers and the city, especially this time of year.

“Without local shoppers we wouldn’t be here and that’s why were very thankful for everybody that does shop local with us,” Rogers says.

“Shop small Saturday is a really big annual event for all of us and we really want everyone to come and participate,” Huerta says.

It’s estimated a record 144 billion dollars will be spent online this year for the holiday.

The mayor stresses to all of us that money spent at local businesses better serves the community.

“If we can prioritize shopping here you’re actually doing yourself a favor because that moneys going to come back to you in the form of city services,” Gaylor Baird says.

With the new online sales tax that recently took effect, local business owners hope to see more in-store shoppers.

Here’s a complete list of this years ‘Shop Local Days’ events:

• The “Shop the Blocks” holiday celebration from 4:30 to 9 p.m. Thursday, November 21 is produced by the Downtown Lincoln Association (DLA). The event includes discounts, giveaways and refreshments. More information is available at downtownlincoln.org/explore/shop-the-blocks
• The tenth annual Small Business Saturday promotion is November 30, the Saturday between “Black Friday” and “Cyber Monday.” Small Business Saturday was started in 2010 by American Express, which offers promotions for shoppers and retailers. It is also supported by Women Impacting Public Policy (WIPP), a non-partisan small business advocate and operational arm of the Small Business Saturday Coalition. More information is available at smallbusinesssaturday.com.
• The fifth annual “Haymarket Unwrapped” is from 4. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, December 10. The free event will include discounts, prizes, refreshments, live music and sleigh rides in Lincoln’s Historic Haymarket District. It is produced by DLA and the Lincoln Haymarket Development Corporation. More information is available at lincolnhaymarket.org.
• Breakfast with Santa is from 8 to 11 a.m. Saturday, December 14 at the Candy Factory Atrium, 800 “P” Street. The event includes live music, a toy train display, a clown, a bubble show and pictures with Santa. More information is available at lincolnhaymarket.org.