Small business Saturday will be crucial amid pandemic

SIDNEY, NE — 2020 has been hard on small businesses everywhere. As holiday shopping starts this weekend, organizations are making the push for people to get out and shop local.

“That person that’s on your list to shop for Christmas gifts, why not find something in town that can check that box,” Cheyenne County Chamber president and CEO Hope Feeney said.

The Cheyenne County Chamber’s promotion to help business starts this weekend. Spend $10 dollars at a member business and earn a hole in a punch card. Get 10 punches and you’ll be entered to win one of many prizes the chamber is giving out over the holiday season. 

“We’re doing this to this not support just that one day of shopping, but get everybody out throughout the month of December and to promote some shopping after the first of the year” chamber membership coordinator and small business owner Eric Bertrand said.

Bertrand owns a local business, a consignment store called Daises and Dragons. He says small business may not be able to offer the same prices as retail giants like Amazon. The local shops need the support more, however.

“The big boys are going to get their sales no matter where they’re at or what the world is," he said. "The small guys need every bit of help they can get.”

Feeney says many businesses have done a great job adapting to serve those who may not want to go out due to COVID-19 by offering curbside or delivery.

“A lot of our businesses are very willing to do those things," she said. "Go ahead and give them a call and see how you can get the items your’e looking for that way as well.”

No matter how you buy, it's a crucial time of year for small business.

"I’ve said this a few times over the past few weeks," Bertrand said. "That $30 or $40 you might be saving somewhere might be the difference in keeping the lights on somewhere else."