Shop Saint Michael Week Just Around the Corner, With Specials Set Around Town

Shop Saint Michael reminds holiday shoppers to keep their shopping local this holiday season to support area businesses and the St. Michael community.  The non-profit organization of more than 60 St. Michael businesses is planning a special “Shop Saint Michael Week,” Nov. 24-30 to encourage residents to keep their spending in town during the busiest shopping week of the year.

During Shop Saint Michael week, numerous St. Michael businesses will offer a variety of special offers and attractive coupons to encourage local shopping.  These offers will be posted on www.shopsaintmichael.com, with updates at Shop Saint Michael’s Facebook fan page.  

Shop Saint Michael also is holding a “Why I Shop Local” testimonial contest.  The writer of the most interesting testimonial will receive a $50 gift card from Great Northern Bank. To submit a testimonial, visit www.shopsaintmichael.com and submit a comment online. Or, you can submit a comment right here on this article. 

Keeping your holiday shopping in St. Michael is much easier than driving across town to a big-box store, notes Peggy Schumm, president of Shop Saint Michael and owner of Peggy S. Schumm, CPA, Ltd.

 “You can buy everything you need for the holidays right here in St. Michael, and you don’t have to fight traffic on I-94 or worry about your kids finding a package at the door,” said Schumm.  “You can get your Christmas ham, your Christmas tree, your wreath, your poinsettias, your lights, all of your meal items, your wine, your gift cards, and a present for everyone on your list, without ever having to leave the city.  Just think of the time you’ll save. You’ll actually have time to enjoy the holidays instead of racing all over town.” 

Wayne Berthiaume, founder of Shop Saint Michael and owner of Verizon Wireless in St. Michael, reminds local shoppers that shopping local is not just good for local retail businesses, it’s good for the entire community.

“Shopping local is essential to maintaining a prosperous local economy and a strong sense of community,” Berthiaume said.  “Nearly every dollar you spend at a small business in St. Michael stays in St. Michael. That business owner buys products and services from other businesses in St. Michael, hires employees who may live in St. Michael, pays property taxes that benefit our infrastructure and government services, and makes donations to support our local teams and youth groups, churches and other charitable events.  Please keep that in mind this Christmas and do your shopping in St. Michael instead of online or at a big-box store.”

Shop Saint Michael Week organizer Nick Shultz, senior vice president of Great Northern Bank, notes that shopping local has a tremendous economic impact.

“Most studies estimate that 65-75 percent of money spent at local businesses stays within that community,” Shultz said.  “The money spent at local businesses has a ripple effect within the community, touching several businesses – professionals, manufacturers, contractors, service companies, non-profits, bankers and retailers.  That’s why it is so important to shop local not just during the holidays, but year-round.”

Shop Saint Michael is a local non-profit organization of St. Michael businesses with the vision of having every resident consider buying in Saint Michael before going to businesses in the surrounding area or big box stores