Local spots look to Small Business Saturday
Local makers and vendors are partnering with brick-and-mortar businesses across Humboldt County for pop-up shops and holiday markets for Small Business Saturday.
Alanna Powell, the executive director of Humboldt Made, has always been a proponent of supporting local businesses, but she said this year “is more important than ever.”
“Small businesses contribute so much to our local community — more than most people realize,” she said. “Between creating jobs, bringing tax dollars to our neighborhoods, and making it possible for those small businesses to give back. Another economic impact that we don’t realize is that these businesses support other local events in their community, way more than the corporations do. It’s not necessarily just the dollar that you’re spending at the local businesses, but think about who they’re employing and where their dollars are being spent.”
Powell credited the Humboldt County community for being “incredibly supportive” of local businesses.
“There’s something about Humboldt County people, we’re dedicated to supporting our community and I have full faith we will continue to do so,” she said.
While the coronavirus pandemic presented unprecedented challenges for small businesses, Powell said it gave a lot of people an opportunity to “get creative and double down on their marketing strategies.”
“One of the things that has really stuck out to me is how many of our Humboldt Made businesses, in particular, have just doubled down on their branding, their brand voice and connecting to their customers on a deeper level because the pandemic was such a vulnerable place to be,” she continued. “Take Six Rivers Brewery, for example.”
Since the onset of the pandemic, the staff at Six Rivers Brewery in McKinleyville have partnered with local vendors to showcase what Humboldt County makers
have to offer.
“I certainly know that I get really excited anytime I go into a restaurant, bar, or a grocery store and see my product on the shelf, so being able to offer that opportunity for as many other local vendors as I can is really important,” said Meredith Maier, co-owner of Six River Brewery. “If we can sell a case of hot sauce and a case of coffee every week for a local vendor, I know that helps their bottom line and it is going to help them continue to grow their business.”
Along with the “local marketplace” showcasing locally made products, Maier said the brewery also began hosting local vendors.
“As soon as all kinds of the festivals got canceled, I had sent an email out to Humboldt Made’s Friday Night Market list of vendors to invite them to come and set up here. We’ve been doing kind of these pop-ups every Friday and Saturday,” she said.
Maier said Saturday’s pop-up isn’t necessarily a Small Business Saturday event, but said she encourages folks to shop local and to come out to meet local makers face-to-face.
“This Saturday we actually have a first-time vendor, Esther the Zester, she makes spices and spice kits. We also have a McKinleyville artist coming who makes lamps out of recycled bottles,” she said.
Esther the Zester recently started writing a food column for the TimesStandard covering “flavorful living, one spice at a time” to no-stress holiday meal prep.
“We’re going to keep these pop-ups going in perpetuity,” Maier said. “As long as we have vendors that are still active and want to show up, we’ll continue to host. …Honestly, it’s been really fun. It’s fun for the staff as well as the customers that come through because it adds extra energy to the brewery.”
Local offerings
Arcata Main Street has curated a coupon book with discounts for a slew of Arcata businesses. Small Business Saturday festivities will commence on the Arcata Plaza during the farmer’s market and continue into the evening with the lighting of the plaza Christmas tree at 5:30 p.m.
If you go:
• What: Small Business Saturday
• When: Today, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Where: Arcata Plaza
Eureka Main Street is also encouraging folks to shop locally this holiday season. Businesses throughout Eureka will partner with other local makers for pop-up shops and offer special deals for Small Business Saturday.
Those who spend at least $10 at participating local businesses will be entered into a drawing for gift certificates of $25 or more from those merchants. The drawing for the Holiday Shopping Spree will be held on Monday, Dec. 20. The three lucky winners will be contacted by phone or email.
The Fortuna Chamber of Commerce launched a Facebook campaign earlier this month urging community members to shop locally for the holidays. Reason No. 1 for shopping locally is supporting your neighbors, according to the chamber.
“When you shop local, you are supporting your neighbors and they are more likely, in turn, to keep the money you spent with them locally as well,” the chamber wrote in a Facebook post, adding that out of every $100 spent locally, $68 stays local.
The folks at Downtown Ferndale are bringing back Holiday Bonus Bucks to encourage people to come out for Small Business Saturday in Ferndale.
”Starting today, you can purchase $50 in Ferndale dollars and get $20 extra dollars to spend before Jan. 31, 2022,” according to Downtown Ferndale’s Facebook page. “This means that for $50 you can give someone a $70 gift! These ‘bonus’ gift cards were brought to you by a generous donation from Giffels Webster.”
The Southern Humboldt Business and Visitors Bureau will host the Artisan Holiday Pop-Up Store in Garberville through Christmas Eve.
If you go:
• What: Southern Humboldt Artisan Holiday Pop-Up Store
• When: Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Dec. 24
• Where: 784 Redwood Drive in Garberville
The Stuudiio will host the Solstice Holiday Market in Eureka through Christmas Eve. The Soltice Holiday Market provides a cornucopia of products made by small brands and local artisans.
If you go:
• What: Solstice Holiday Market
• When: Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and weekends 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Where: The Stuudiio, 422 First Street in Eureka.
Pierson’s Building Center will host its Christmas Store featuring ornaments, gifts and decorations from nearly 300 Humboldt County makers, more than ever before, according to a Pierson’s spokesperson. The Christmas Store will be open during business hours through Christmas.
The Scotia Lodge will host its inaugural Holiday Makers Market this weekend as well.
If you go:
• What: Holiday Maker’s Market
• When: Saturday, Nov. 27, and Sunday, Nov. 28 from 2 to 8 p.m.
• Where: Scotia Lodge, 100 Main Street in Scotia.