The Holiday Season is Packed With Fun Ways to Support Small Businesses in Fairmont

The holiday season is both a festive and stressful time for small business owners. Half of small businesses bring in 25% of their annual revenue during the holiday shopping months, while retail small businesses make half of their annual sales during this time. Residents of Fairmont, Minnesota, love supporting nearby businesses throughout the year, but buying local gets even more fun during the holidays. There are several events and activities that connect residents with the entrepreneurs around them.  

“When you shop locally, it stays local,” says Kandi Menne, President at the Fairmont Area Chamber of Commerce. “The benefits have a snowball effect on the community, not only do the store owners, vendors, and employees benefit, but the community as a whole.”

Mark your calendars for some of the top holiday events in Fairmont this year so you can pick out the perfect locally-made gifts for your loved ones. 

There’s Always Something Happening Around Fairmont

Whether you are traveling for the holidays or staying in town, you can still catch some of the annual events hosted by the Chamber, City, and other organizations. Here are a few favorite holiday activities for residents that get bigger every year.

• Fairmont Glows: On the Friday before Thanksgiving, businesses and community groups can join the parade and light up Fairmont as creatively as possible. Santa and Mrs. Claus fly into the airport before they head over to the parade route. Many downtown businesses stay open during this event, so you can pair shopping with parade festivities.
• Merry & Bright: This event falls on the first Friday of December and is an opportunity for kids to meet Santa and his reindeer. Kids can be amazed by the lighting of the Christmas tree while adults start their holiday shopping locally. 
• Small Business Saturday: This is a national movement that millions of small businesses participate in. Many Fairmont businesses offer deals, events, and activities on the Saturday following Thanksgiving.    

The Chamber is also developing a social media campaign this winter to promote small businesses and let people know about the exciting companies that open their doors here.

Many of these events offer fun times with friends and family, where supporting local businesses comes naturally while you spend time shopping in Fairmont. You can meet Santa, watch parade floats, play games, and sip on warm drinks while visiting your favorite stores.

“The Fairmont Area Chamber and other groups do an excellent job putting together activities for our businesses and families throughout November and December,” says Ned Koppen, Economic Development Coordinator for the Fairmont Economic Development Authority (FEDA). “Whether you want to get out on the ice for the first time this season or curl up with a hot cup of cocoa, you can find a festive way to enjoy the season.”

Don’t Forget Your Chamber Bucks 

There are dozens of businesses in Fairmont that sell gifts for your loved ones, but not everyone is easy to buy for. If you aren’t sure what to get someone but still want to support local businesses, pick up some Chamber Bucks. These are checks written out to “A Martin County Business” that can be redeemed throughout town. Stores don’t have to be Chamber Members to accept Chamber Bucks.

Chamber Bucks make excellent holiday gifts for employees because they can be spent anywhere while putting money into other Fairmont businesses. Chamber bucks can be purchased at the Chamber of Commerce 

Fairmont Local Businesses Are Multi-Generational 

One of the coolest things about Fairmont is that many local businesses have been open for decades, and some stores have been passed down through the generations. Residents of Fairmont support their friends and neighbors throughout the year and want to see them thrive.

“It shows a lot about our community that we respect those businesses and want them to continue from one generation to the next,” says Menne.

Along with buying from multi-generational companies, residents benefit in other ways from buying locally. Smaller shops can provide a more personalized experience with owners who get to know you. They can help you find exactly what you need. There’s also a practical benefit of buying locally: when you need to return something, you don’t need to leave town. Simply stop by to replace or exchange your items.

Start your shopping in Fairmont this winter. You might be surprised at how much you can find without relying on the Internet.

“You can find almost anything you want here, and we’re pretty proud of that,” says Menne. “Fairmont is worth seeing and there are plenty of local businesses to explore.” 

Enjoy Winter Life in Fairmont

Minnesota residents love winter. This season is filled with outdoor activities like ice hockey and snowshoeing. If you haven’t been to Fairmont when there’s snow on the ground, it’s worth visiting. You might decide to stay awhile and become part of the warm community that welcomes new residents and entrepreneurs who move here.