110 W. New York Ave.
DeLand, FL 32720
386-734-4622
BEACON PHOTO/SARAHROSE MINISTERI
Thirteen years — Steve of Steve's Downtown Music displays a poster of photos from his store opening thirteen years ago. He is looking forward to Small Business Saturday, Nov. 24.
BEACON PHOTO/SARAHROSE MINISTERI
Gifts galore — Media fills the shelves at Steve's Downtown Music in DeLand. Local merchants all over the country are encouraging consumers to shop local this holiday season.
posted Nov 21, 2012 - 10:14:50am
Keep your money here. For every $25 you spend in DeLand, here's how much stays in our local community:
Local independent — $13.75
Chain stores — $3.90
Online/Amazon.com — $0.00
— Janet Bollum
After thanks have been given, and the dishes are done, it's time for the biggest shopping weekend of the year.
Incoming MainStreet DeLand Association Executive Director Mary Beth Harris is hoping small businesses in West Volusia get a big piece of that pie. For the third year, there's a nationwide event designed to help.
Merchants like Janet Bollum are getting ready for Small Business Saturday on Nov. 24.
Bollum, owner of The Muse Book Shop in Downtown DeLand, explained the push to promote small community businesses.
"Support them; they're the ones who support you," Bollum said.
Because small businesses are run by people, not corporate chains, they live, work, play and shop in their cities, and they give back to the community.
Cam Amici, owner of Dressed Boutique, just down the block from The Muse, said "Shopping in local stores is important, not just for my store, but other stores Downtown. If these stores did not stay in business, our Downtown would be a ghost town."
Small Business Saturday, created in 2010 by American Express, is a day to remind shoppers how important local businesses are to the economy.
"I think it's a wonderful idea. It's something MainStreet DeLand promotes every day," Harris said.
"I challenge everyone to come Downtown Saturday and either eat at a local restaurant, or buy something from a local merchant," she said. "Show your support!"
Small-business owners in DeLand have taken a liking to this holiday tradition. However, for many, the "holiday" is business as usual.
Toni Lynn Bruzzese, owner of Pat & Toni's Sweet Things, said, "We are always grateful for our customers, so we prepare every day like it's Small Business Saturday."
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Such a wasted opportunity. Downtown DeLand could become an actual destination for Christmas shoppers from around a large area with a little creativity. It is actually a PRIME downtown area for the following..
All or most of the shops downtown have display windows, and the older amongst us can remember when the whole family would make a special trip downtown to see the shops unveil their Christmas windows. Small crowds in front of the windows ooohing and ahhhing at the animated displays of toy shops with Santa and the elves, or skaters on a mirror pond, or the toy train with tracks around the Christmas tree.
Business owners.. try to outdo each other with your displays and everyone wins. Don't beg us for our business, give us a reason to be there. Families would absolutely LOVE this and probably wouldn't mind spending a little more.
You have to be willing to be open when people want to shop.. which is not during the day.
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