Support local retailers by shopping Small Business Saturday in Geneva

Shopping Small Business Saturday in Geneva Nov. 24 goes a long way for customer discounts and supporting our local retail community this holiday season.

To encourage people to patronize Geneva's wide selection of independent stores and restaurants, the City distributed promotional merchandise to merchants and is highlighting Small Business Saturday specials on its website at www.geneva.il.us/shopsmall.

To celebrate Small Business Saturday this year, the city is sponsoring a Shop Small Geneva photo contest.

Shoppers are encouraged to take a picture while they are supporting a local Geneva business from Nov. 16 to 25. To qualify, contestants should post the photo on social media with the hashtag #ShopSmallGeneva.

The contest winner will receive a 2018 city pewter ornament featuring the Fabyan Windmill. All photos will be viewable in an album on the city's Facebook page the following week.

Local merchants also are promoting their Small Business Saturday deals on social media through the hashtag #ShopSmallGeneva.

On Nov. 5, Mayor Kevin Burns and the city council joined communities across the United States in proclaiming Nov. 24 as Small Business Saturday.

To plan a Geneva shopping experience in advance, people can find a comprehensive online business directory available on the city's website.

Geneva High School students will be playing live music from 1 to 3 p.m. on Saturday at Harvey's Tale, 216 James St.. Harvey's Tales is also collaborating with Anderson's Animal Shelter to wrap purchases made at Harvey's Tales on that day with a suggested donation to the shelter. Harvey's Tales will match donations up to $300.

Some of merchants offering special activities and discounts include: Bare Moxie, The Gathering, The Little Traveler, Harvey's Tales, The Olive Mill, Artemisia, Cali & Chance, State Street Jewelers, Strawflower Shop and Rug Merchant, Azar Jewelers, Crystal Life Technology, Aunt Sassy's Quilt and Image Awards, Engraving & Creative Keepsakes.

Doing holiday shopping in Geneva Nov. 24 and beyond not only supports our hundreds of retailers throughout the community, but also generates sales tax revenue for the city.

That revenue helps fund critical police, fire and public works services; needed road repairs and infrastructure upgrades; and other key programs. Thank you for shopping small and local in Geneva this season.