Coulter encourages local holiday shopping
‘Small businesses are the lifeblood of our local communities’
With just over a week to go before the hordes hit stores on Black Friday, Oakland County Executive Dave Coulter stopped in Berkley to urge people to shop locally.
“More than 80 percent of our businesses in Oakland County are small businesses,” Coulter said Wednesday during a visit to VITRINE, a gift, gallery and home goods store on Coolidge Highway. “Small businesses are the lifeblood of our local communities — they are our friends and neighbors.”
Coulter’s visit coincides with a county effort to promote local shopping on Small Business Saturday, Nov. 27, and throughout December.
In support of a “Shopping Small and Local” program, the county has created a webpage at oakgov.com/ShopSmall where people can learn about businesses and holiday activities in 23 communities, from Berkley, Ferndale, Clawson, Madison Heights, Oak Park, Hazel Park and Royal Oak to Farmington, Clarkston, Franklin, Pontiac and Lake Orion.
Sixteen of the communities are part of the Main Street Oakland County program, which is sponsoring the program, along with Genisys Credit Union and Oakland County Economic Development.
Genysis CEO Jakie Buchanan said downtown districts countywide are working to “build back from the economic impacts of the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Susan Rogal, owner of VITRINE, said supply chain challenges caused by the pandemic led her to adapt.
Rogal said Wednesday she was helped by a Main Street Oakland County grant and found other sources to keep her business supplied.
“I’ve had to pivot and innovate over the past two years,” she said. “But I’m grateful for Oakland County’s support and the support of our dedicated customers.
Rogal further urged people to shop in their communities.
“Shop locally,” she said, “not only this holiday season but throughout the year.”
All 16 of the Main Street Oakland communities have received at least one grant from the county program.
Andy Gilbert, chairman of Berkley’s Downtown Development Authority, sounded an upbeat note about business in the city.
“We’re asking you to come experience the shops here,” Gilbert said. “The (business) growth here has been phenomenal.”
Shopping local can also bring businesses closer and augment a business’s customer base, said Erin Brick of the Grab & Go Market, which offers a professional kitchen rental, boxes and catering.
Grab & Go shares an open indoor entrance with VITRINE and customers from one business often check out the other, Brick said.
“We’re not the same busi
ness,” she said. “But we’re more than neighbors.”
Coulter highlighted the county’s small business navigator program and its new lead, Nilda Thomas.
Funded with America Rescue Plan Act funds, Thomas is helping develop the program to support small businesses in underserved communities in the county with resources.
Though the county doesn’t employee economic forecasters, Coulter said recent trends show more people are out shopping than last year.
“There’s pent-up demand from last year,” Coulter said.