Buy Local Santa Monica announced today its endorsement of and participation in the fifth annual Small Business Saturday this weekend on Nov. 29.
Small Business Saturday is celebrated the Saturday after Thanksgiving, dedicated to supporting small businesses nationwide. The day has given small business a huge boost.
Santa Monica residents are encouraged to shop locally and take part in the Small Business Saturday event on Montana Avenue on Nov. 29.
Stop by to support your favorite small businesses. Shop Small Montana Avenue will take place from 10 am to 6 pm along Montana Avenue, from 7th and 17th Street.
The event, organized by the Montana Avenue Merchants Association, will have live music and special promotions at local retailers to help celebrate local small businesses and the holidays.
According to the National Retail Federation, each consumer will spend approximately $750 on holiday related shopping this year.
As the holidays approach, Buy Local Santa Monica encourages you to support your local merchants. Local businesses and organizations are what make Santa Monica such a great city to live in.
Linda Greenberg Gross, Executive Director of the Santa Monica Malibu Education Foundation and a member of the Buy Local Santa Monica Committee, said shopping locally makes a difference.
“Last year, local purchases raised over $7 million for the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District and resulted in the ongoing operations of summer school, the employment of 43 teachers as well as funding for a SaMoHi college counselor and new textbooks,” Greenberg Gross said. “When you’re making your holiday purchases in Santa Monica, you’re giving back to our schools and our community.”
According to Civic Economics, for every $1 spent at a local business, as much as 70 cents stays in the community through taxes, payroll, and other expenditure.
Spending locally ensures that your sales taxes are reinvested right here in Santa Monica. It also ensures you find the “perfect gift”.
Santa Monica shops, restaurants and other local service businesses offer unique gifts for every person on your list.
Buying locally for other holiday activities, whether it be shopping for holiday meal ingredients and the Santa Monica Farmers Markets, ordering catering or booking a table at a Santa Monica restaurant for family or work-related holiday gatherings, keeps your holidays green, and hassle-free by keeping it local.
Jennifer Taylor, Chair of the Buy Local Santa Monica Committee, encouraged locals to buy local, eat local, and play local.
“Santa Monica has over 9,000 businesses, with something perfect for everyone, and it’s convenient,” Taylor said. “Thank you for supporting our local businesses and our community.”
For a list of perfect gift ideas, visit www.buylocalsantamonica.com/perfectgift.
Small Business Saturday also marks the kick-off to Buy Local for the Holidays festivities, including a citywide “Buy Local for Holidays” Sidewalk Sale on Dec. 5-7 and free community events. For details, visit www.buylocalsm.com/events.
The events include:
— Friday, Dec. 5: Montana Avenue Holiday Walk includes holiday shopping opportunities, festive music, refreshments and Santa from 5-9pm, Organized by the Montana Avenue Merchants Association.
— Saturday, Dec. 6: Holiday Hop Along Pico is from noon to 6 pm on Pico Boulevard between 26th and 34th street. There will be multiple art exhibits, live music, refreshments, holiday shopping specials, children’s craft activities, and an appearance from Santa Claus and his elves. Pico merchants will also be collection canned food donations for the Westside Food Bank. Organized by the Pico Improvement Organization.
— Saturday, Dec. 6: Main Street Holiday Celebrations boasts over 60 parties in participating Main Street restaurants, shops, spas and fitness studios, along with tree lighting, carolers, and Santa and holiday window contest, from 6-9 pm. Organized by the Main Street Business Improvement Association.
— Various Dates: ICE and WinterLit Holiday Festivities in Downtown Santa Monica include exciting events for Santa Monica locals and visitors alike to enjoy the holidays…. and Buy Local!. Back by popular demand, ICE, at 5th and Arizona, brings outdoor ice skating under the palm trees to all ages throughout the holiday season (until Jan. 22, 2015). In addition to ICE, there are tons of fun activities being hosted along the Third Street Promenade and at Santa Monica Place for all ages:, including story time with Mrs. Claus, photos with Santa, Menorah Lightings, Christmas Karaoke and movie night.
For more information on Santa Monica’s holiday events, including Bergamot Station Arts Center 30 Open Doors Holiday Open House and the 6th Annual SANTA Monica Pub Crawl, visit www.buylocalsm.com/events.
And throughout the holiday season, to help make it easier for locals and their guests to enjoy Santa Monica, there’s the Santa Monica Convention and Visitors Bureau’s Extra Bedroom Program offering amazing “locals only” (discounts at 18 participating Santa Monica hotels (until Jan. 23, 2015) to help Santa Monica residents and their guests enjoy one another so that they may all Buy, Eat + Stay Local.
For details and rates, visit www.santamonica.com/extrabedroom.
