“When we spend it here, we keep it here, so let’s keep it local with our in-store and online holiday purchases.”

Chapel Hill and Carrboro, NC: The Chamber for a Greater Chapel Hill-Carrboro (The Chamber) and the Carrboro Business Alliance (CBA) encourage everyone to #ShopSmall on Small Business Saturday, which is the Saturday after Thanksgiving (11/26/22), and #BuyLocal throughout the 2022 holiday season.

“Every time we make a purchase at a local business, we support local jobs and help preserve the local character of our community,” said Katie Loovis, Vice President for External Affairs at The Chamber and staff support for the CBA. “When we spend it here, we keep it here, so let’s keep it local with our in-store and online holiday purchases.”

#ShopSmall on Small Business Saturday

Small Business Saturday is an annual holiday shopping tradition and part of the larger #shopsmall movement to support small businesses every day and everywhere. Both Chapel Hill Mayor Pam Hemminger and Carrboro Mayor Damon Seils proclaimed Saturday, November 26, 2022 as Small Business Saturday and local business owners shared reflections as they received the proclamations. Watch Neals Deli owner Sheila Dalton (Carrboro) and Epilogue Books Chocolate Brews co-owner Jaime Sanchez (Chapel Hill) remind everyone how they can #ShopSmall to make a big difference.

(Neals Deli owner Sheila Dalton receives Small Business Saturday proclamation from Carrboro Mayor Damon Seils on behalf of the local Carrboro business community on November 15, 2022.)

(Epilogue Books Chocolate Brews co-owner Jaime Sanchez receives Small Business Saturday proclamation from Chapel Hill Mayor Pam Hemminger on behalf of the local Chapel Hill business community on November 16, 2022.)

#Carrboro Cheer

Carrboro Cheer is an annual #BuyLocal initiative coordinated by the CBA to spread #CarrboroCheer and support local #Carrboro businesses during the holiday season. Carrboro Cheer 2022 is presented by Carr Mill Mall and Weaver Street Market with support from Piedmont Health and the Town of Carrboro.

Carrboro Cheer Swag Bag: Carrboro Cheer kicks off on Small Business Saturday (11/26/2022) with a booth at the Carrboro Farmers’ Market from 9-10am where CBA members will distribute #CarrboroCheer Swag Bags. The 2022 Swag Bag is a complimentary branded canvas tote filled with:

• “It’s Carrboro” koozie from the Town of Carrboro and Visit Carrboro
• Poster from the Carrboro Farmers' Market
• Coffee from Carrboro Coffee Roasters and Open Eye Café
• $5 gift certificate from CommunityWorx
• $5 holiday coupon from Weaver Street Market
• Coupon for a free t-shirt from the ArtsCenter
• Stickers from American Express
• Complimentary 2023 Visitors and Relocation Guide produced by Triangle Media Partners in collaboration with The Chamber
• Details from the Local Reporter on how to access free local news
• Complimentary cookie from Neal’s Deli to be distributed at the CBA booth

Carrboro Cheer Gift Guide: A hallmark of Carrboro Cheer is the annual online Gift Guide showcasing nearly 50 highly curated, uniquely Carrboro gift ideas. There are currently eight gift lists in the Carrboro Cheer Gift Guide:

• Uniquely Carrboro, which features Carrboro-branded gift options, such as the “I’m Openly Carrboro” t-shirt from This + That Gift Gallery and Craftboro's 32oz & 64oz Growlers To-Go.
• Gifts around $20, which features affordable treasures, such as candles made by Black-owned businesses and sold in the gift shop at Weaver Street Market and cute cotton kitchen towels made by a NC husband and wife team and sold at the NC Crafts Gallery.
• Gifts to Savor, which features flavorful gifts of Carrboro, including food, beer, and wine, such as the Neal’s Nuts from Neal’s Deli and artisanal offerings and wine from Glasshalfull Mercantile.
• Gifts to Delight, which features presents from Carrboro’s many gift shops and stores, such as the cozy-chic “Barefoot Dreams” collection from Sofia’s Boutique and the opportunity to commission one-of-a-kind custom jewelry from Ring's True designed by master artisan and jewelry craftsman Karl Linger – both in Carr Mill Mall.
• Gifts to Experience, which features Carrboro experiences that can be gifted, such as a staycation in Carrboro at the Hampton Inn & Suites and salt soak float experience from Arete Float Tank and Personal Optimization Studio.
• Gifts for Learning, which features cooking, reno, or tutoring lessons for someone special, including gift coupons for one-month tuition and free registration for Kumon of Carrboro after-school math and reading programs, and a grab bar installation by the Apprentices at Carrboro Hope Renovations.  
• Gifts for Kids, which features children’s bikes and gear for all sizes and ages from The Clean Machine (bike shop) and the Lumi Pets Bear Night Light with Bluetooth Speaker from Ali-Cat Toys.
• Gifts to Surprise, which features gifts from the practical to the sublime, including the 10-Wash Punch Card from Carolina Car Wash to keep their car shiny and bright, and a custom wood crafts from the pros at Fitch Lumber such as a cedar outdoor table or black walnut cutting board.

#BuyLocal this Holiday Season

Buying local promotes a more vibrant community. In fact, 67 cents of every dollar spent at a local business stays in the community according to the Small Business Economic Impact Study by American Express. There are many opportunities to #BuyLocal in Greater Chapel Hill-Carrboro this holiday season. The following is a short list and you can find more at Visit Chapel Hill:

• Saturday, Nov 26: Small Business Saturday, an annual day to #ShopSmall. Learn more and find a local business – and – pick-up a complimentary local #CarrboroCheer Swag Bag from the Carrboro Business Alliance (CBA) at the Carrboro Farmers’ Market from 9-10am.
• Sunday, Nov 27: Carolina Inn Holiday Market and Bier Garten is a European style market with a nod of southern flare with vendors from all over the state who are selling hand crafted yuletide gifts from chocolates, to jewelry, to ornaments and more along with a festive tent for craft beers, mulled wine, and signature cocktails – all from 12pm-4pm (also on Dec 4 and Dec 18).
• Monday, Nov 28: Local Cyber Monday. Join the Chamber and CBA in making it Local Cyber Monday. Find several one-click wonders in the Carrboro Cheer Gift Guide.
• Tuesday, Nov 29: Local Giving Tuesday. Join the Chamber and CBA in making it Local Giving Tuesday. Find a local charity and make a donation.
• Saturday, Dec 3: The Inclusive Business Holiday Market at Extraordinary Ventures in Chapel Hill from 10am-1pm, a Holiday Arts Market at the Ackland Art Museum from 11am-4pm, and the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Community Parade from 10:30am-12:30pm.
• Friday, Dec 9: Carrboro Annual Holiday Tree Lighting featuring music and local schoolchildren from 6-7pm at Carrboro Town Hall.

Chamber Activation

The Chamber is recognized as a Small Business Saturday Neighborhood Champion for outstanding efforts to bring the community together with events and activities on Small Business Saturday and throughout the year. The Chamber Directory connects shoppers with local businesses and the Chamber’s website features a new Buy Local webpage that helps local businesses make the most of Small Business Saturday and the holiday shopping season. In addition, The Chamber will co-host a table at the Carrboro Farmers’ Market on Small Business Saturday with the Carrboro Business Alliance and distribute 150 Small Business Saturday local swag bags. In addition, the Chamber will keep the #BuyLocal momentum going with social media throughout the holiday season (facebook, twitter, instagram) using hashtags #ShopSmall and #BuyLocal.

About The Chamber

The Chamber for a Greater Chapel Hill-Carrboro (The Chamber) is a membership organization that serves and advances the business interests of Greater Chapel Hill-Carrboro, including the Towns of Chapel Hill and Carrboro as well as southern Orange, northern Chatham, and southwest Durham counties. The Chamber's network includes 600 member enterprises that employ more than 95,000 workers throughout the region. Together with its network, The Chamber is committed to building a sustainable community where business thrives.

About the Carrboro Business Alliance

The Carrboro Business Alliance (CBA), founded in 2014 on the shared belief that "local matters," is now more than 100 local enterprises collaborating to help Carrboro thrive. The CBA mission is to 1) connect members with information and customers, 2) promote members and the Carrboro community, and 3) represent local business interests with policy makers. Follow the CBA on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, and join the conversation with #LocalMatters.

Contact

For questions, contact The Chamber Vice President for External Affairs, Katie Loovis, at (919) 696-0781 (cell) or KLoovis@carolinachamber.org.