Nontraditional holiday shopping goes local

During the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, shoppers traditionally flock to big box stores and popular websites to check off their gift lists. But December is the perfect time for nontraditional shopping and supporting local businesses, and Edmond is a great place to start.

Viewing lights is an annual tradition for many during the holiday season. Merry Marketplace aims to elevate that tradition, pairing the magic of lights with the offerings of local businesses for a one-of-a-kind holiday experience.

Making the season bright

Held Dec. 17 during Edmond’s Luminance, a walk-through holiday light display in Mitch Park, Merry Marketplace features local food, hot coffee and cocoa, live music, and local retail vendors.

“Small businesses that participate in Merry Marketplace are given a unique opportunity to reach the greater Edmond community,” said Emily Young, marketing coordinator for the City of Edmond’s Parks and Recreation. “These vendors are able to capitalize on the chance to have strong sales right around the holidays.”

The big winners? The holiday shoppers. 

“The local community benefits the most from this event,” Young said. “They have the opportunity to find locally made, unique gifts for their friends and family for the holidays. These small businesses are able to provide a product that is often unlike anything that can be found at big box stores. From wreaths to soaps to locally roasted coffee, shoppers can find everything they need to wrap and put under the tree!”

Taking local online

As a small business owner, keeping up with the holiday rush may seem intimidating, but Jamicia Wylie with Habit says the key to boosting business is going digital.

“In today’s world, if you want to have a successful brick-and-mortar, you almost have to have an online presence to back it up,” Wylie said. “I think of my website as a ‘menu.’ Before you try out the new restaurant in town, the first thing you want to do is check out the menu. Same with retail. With social media being the number one way to reach customers, it just makes sense to be able to drive them to your website.”

Habit offers in-store pickup, so online customers can shop the latest styles and have them held at the store—saving time and money on shipping. And for business owners, getting started is relatively simple.

“There are so many easy ways to get up and going,” Wylie said. “Shopify and Square both do easy plug-and-play template websites. You don’t have to be a computer programmer to get a site up and running.”  

Wylie encourages shoppers to stop by during the holidays, as an in-person experience offers something unique. 

“We love outfitting our customers and making their time with us special. It’s like shopping with friends.”

Support from the community

How does the Edmond community further support small businesses during the holiday season? This year, the Edmond Chamber of Commerce and Edmond Economic Development Authority (EEDA) sponsored another gift card rebate program.

For every $50 a participant spent at an Edmond restaurant or retailer, they earned a $10 gift card to the business or businesses they supported. All qualifying purchases from local businesses within Edmond city limits were eligible for consideration. 

“The EEDA is happy to partner with the Edmond Chamber on these programs. The direct and indirect effects help to stimulate our economy while allowing patrons to experience the local retail flair that Edmond has to offer,” said Janet Yowell, EEDA executive director. “We want to encourage everyone to get out and support our shops and restaurants that are such an integral part of Edmond.”

Sherry Jordan, president and CEO of the Edmond Chamber, echoed these sentiments, citing the importance of supporting local businesses this season. 

“Small businesses face many challenges, including soaring inflation, worker shortages, and supply chain disruptions. Take action and support your community during a tough year of economic uncertainty. It’s the perfect time to visit your favorite local businesses and thank them for what they do.”