Sandy Phillips , co-owner of Sugar Maple Antiques in downtown Jeffersonville , is planning ahead for holiday shopping events such as Small Business Saturday and Jeffersonville Main Street ' s holiday open house . Photo by Brooke McAfee
JEFFERSONVILLE
Jay Ellis , executive director of Jeffersonville Main Street , said the organization is still planning to go ahead with several holidaythemed events this year , and participants will be asked to follow guidelines for social distancing and mask-wearing .
2020 has been a “ topsy-turvy ” year for local businesses with the stay-at-home order , reduced capacity and other COVID- 19 related challenges , Ellis said .
“ We want people to know that Jeffersonville businesses take [ the pandemic ] seriously and they take the customers ' health seriously , but they ’ re still open for business , and businesses need their support ,” he said .
Annual events such as Small Business Saturday , a U . S . shopping holiday created in 2010 by American Express , help bring customers to small businesses on the Saturday after Thanksgiving amid the holiday season .
“ American Express puts a lot of money into promoting that day and shining a light on small businesses ,” Ellis said . “ We ’ ve been appreciative of that . A lot of businesses do report very strong sales on Small Business Saturday .”
He said the organization is planning for its annual holiday open house on Nov . 12 , which will be an opportunity for people to shop at local stores and eat at local restaurants as stores are decorated for the holiday season .
Depending on the weather , stores will be encouraged to sell products on the sidewalks for an open air environment , Ellis said .
Jeffersonville Main Street is also planning its annual Christmas Cookie Stroll for the first Saturday in December , which involves customers collecting cookies from participating businesses in downtown Jeffersonville .
“ You have that personal customer service , the local flavor and the unique items in downtown Jeffersonville you can ’ t get online or at a big box retailer ,” Ellis said .
Sandy Phillips , co-owner of Sugar Maple Antiques in downtown Jeffersonville , said Small Business Saturday and Jeffersonville
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