ASHLAND — With the Christmas shopping season in full swing, Ashland-area shoppers can cross some items of their lists and celebrate Small Business Saturday with the downtown Ashland Holiday Shop Hop.
The fifth annual Holiday Shop Hop will run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. The Shop Hop starts at either Annette’s Victorian Garden, 220 Center St, or Enjoy! Gourmet Gifts, 145 W. Main St., where shoppers can pick up punch cards that list all of the participating merchants. In addition, businesses will have a free goodie for shoppers.
“It’s good to generate the awareness of small business and what each small business has to offer, so having a special event like this tends to bring out more people to give it a shot and give it a try,” said Annette Statzer, owner of Annette’s Victorian Garden. “We’re all looking forward to it.”
At the end of the event, everyone who returns completed punch cards will be entered into a drawing for raffle prizes. Prizes were donated by the participating businesses. All winners will be announced on Monday, Nov. 28 and winners will be contacted by phone. Winners will also be posted on the Holiday Shop Hop Facebook page.
Other businesses involved include:
– Downtown Perk & Dessert Oasis
– Homestead Springs Farms (Hosted at Enjoy! Gourmet)
– DoTerra Essential Oils (Hosted at Downtown Perk)
– Antiques on Main
– Bagnabit
– Truly Yours Fashion
– South St. Antiques & Collectibles
– Home Hardware
– Beads-n-Things
– Kids Kountry & More
– Candy & Nut Shoppe
– Sam Taylor Fine Jewelry
– Mike’s Music Corner
– Ashland Cleaning
– Robin’s Nest
Sponsored by American Express, Small Business Saturday launched in 2010 as a way to encourage Americans to patronize their local small businesses. In 2015, nearly 100 million Americans shopped at small businesses on Small Business Saturday.
Ashland Main Street will offer gift wrapping services at the back of Downtown Perk. The price is by donation will all proceeds going to Ashland Main Street.
The City of Ashland will also provide shuttle service from Annette’s Victorian Garden to Mitchell’s Orchard & Farm Market for the market’s annual Holiday Sip and Shop. At Mitchell’s, customers can sample a variety of wines for 50 cents per sample from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. More than 30 local vendors will also be at Mitchell’s, offering their wares.
