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Choose MainStreet • Holiday Events • Tips to Boost Holiday Events • Resources
Small Business Saturday: Graphics • Sample Press Release
Top 10 Reasons to Shop MainStreet: Generic Graphics • Local Graphics
Social Media Posts • Previous Shop MainStreet Resources
About Choose MainStreet
Choose MainStreet is an initiative of New Mexico MainStreet to inspire New Mexicans and tourists to shop, eat, and play in downtown districts. New Mexico MainStreet encourages New Mexicans and visitors to choose to shop and eat in MainStreet districts first because small businesses support the local economy and create jobs which improves the quality of life for the whole community!
During the holiday shopping season, it’s more important than ever to keep dollars in the local economy. When money is spent at locally-owned businesses, it has a greater impact than at businesses that are not locally owned because that money continues to recirculate in the community.
Holiday Events in NM MainStreet and Arts & Cultural Districts
| Date | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Friday, November 24, 2023 | Festival of Lights | Raton MainStreet |
| Saturday, November 25, 2023 | Drink Local Downtown Bar Crawl | Downtown ABQ MainStreet Arts & Cultural District |
| Saturday, November 25, 2023 | Whoville Electric Light Parade | Carlsbad MainStreet |
| Saturday, November 25, 2023 | First Annual Tree Lighting & Kids’ Sing-Along | Corrales MainStreet |
| Saturday, November 25, 2023 | Downtown ART WALK | Historic Downtown Farmington |
| Saturday, November 25, 2023 | 33rd Annual Light Christmas Parade | Silver City MainStreet |
| Saturday, November 25, 2023 | Kick Off To Christmas – Shop Small Saturday | Tucumcari Mainstreet |
| Thursday, November 30, 2023 | Light Up Artesia | Artesia MainStreet Arts & Cultural District |
| Friday, December 1, 2023 | Old Town Holiday Stroll | Old Town Albuquerque |
| December 1-3, 2023 | Los Alamos WinterFest Weekend | Los Alamos MainStreet and Creative District |
| Saturday, December 2, 2023 | Christmas on Mainstreet 2023 | Alamogordo MainStreet |
| Saturday, December 2, 2023 | Starlight Parade | Corrales MainStreet |
| Saturday, December 2, 2023 | Christmas Down MainStreet | Deming Luna County MainStreet |
| Saturday, December 2, 2023 | Twinkle Light Parade | Nob Hill MainStreet |
| Thursday, December 7, 2023 | 28th Annual Nob Hill Shop & Stroll | Nob Hill MainStreet (ABQ) |
| Friday, December 8, 2023 | Old-Fashioned Christmas in Downtown T or C | MainStreet Truth or Consequences |
| December 9-10, 2023 | Holiday Market at the ABQ Rail Yards | Barelas MainStreet (ABQ) |
| December 9, 2023 | Holiday Light Parade & Cookie Crawl | Grants MainStreet |
| More coming soon! |
Tips to Boost Holiday Events
Spread the Word
Use the images and messages in this kit on your social media, newsletter, and website.
Hold a Window Decorating Contest
Set a theme and a deadline (between Thanksgiving and early December) and post pictures of the winners on your Facebook page and website.
Cross Market
If MainStreet businesses or theaters already have annual holiday events and activities, help them get the word out! Create a one-page flyer with a list of all that’s going on downtown for the holidays and get it out to your email list, social media, Chamber of Commerce, City, and other partners.
Use PSAs
Don’t forget to take advantage of the Public Service Announcements that radio and newspapers offer for non-profits. Send out information weekly on events and activities on MainStreet.
Host a MainStreet Open House
Offer refreshments, special discounts, coupons, and music in businesses…possibly even carolers on the street or have Santa visit!
Build on Existing Events
If you have a Christmas Festival or Parade, encourage local businesses to have an open house just before or during the event. If the crowd is already there, find a way to capitalize on the traffic.
Organize a “Cash Mob”
Support local businesses with cash mob virtual or in-person events. Cash-mobs.com has information on how to plan a cash mob.
Plan a Twelve Days of Christmas Shopping Event
Give customers who shop MainStreet the opportunity to win a gift basket. Collect items from MainStreet businesses and create as many baskets as you can. Value each basket between $50 and $100 to create incentive for shopping. Customers fill out drawing slips for a chance to win. You can collect the slips at each business or have one drop off point. Remember to capture the email addresses from the raffle tickets and add them to your email list!
Resources
About Small Business Saturday
Small Business Saturday is November 25, 2023
Support local businesses on Small Business Saturday to make a big difference in the community!
Small Business Saturday on November 25 is a New Mexico Gross Receipts Tax Holiday. For this one day, the state suspends collection of gross receipts tax on sales of qualifying items at certain small businesses, allowing the retailer to sell the items “tax free.” Types of items that qualify are clothing, accessories, sporting goods, tools, books, art, cosmetics, musical instruments, cookware, bedding, furniture, toys, games, and electronics. For a business to qualify for the deduction, it must maintain its primary place of business in NM, and employ no more than 10 employees at any point during the year. More information on eligibility and qualifying merchandise is available on the Tax & Revenue website.
New Mexico MainStreet encourages New Mexicans and visitors to choose small businesses in MainStreet districts first during the giving season to keep dollars in the local economy. While shoppers may not find everything on their list in local small businesses, stopping there first gives business owners, entrepreneurs, artists, growers, and makers an opportunity to grow their business. Shoppers also gain the satisfaction of supporting their neighbors, showing community pride, and finding one-of-a-kind treasures during the busiest shopping season of the year.
Studies have shown that for every $100 spent locally, $68 stays local. For every $100 spent at a chain store, only $43 stays local. The bottom line is that shopping MainStreet will keep more money in your community to be re-spent.
Small Business Saturday Graphics
Below are graphics available to download and share. Click the image to download or this zip file to download all of them at once. To customize, click the Canva Template Link and select “Use template for new design” (you must be signed into Canva to get this option!)
Canva Template Link
Canva Template Link
Canva Template Link
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Canva Template Link
Animated – Instagram/Facebook Reels and Posts
Small Business Saturday Sample Press Release
Read NMMS’ Press Release: Shop Small, Save Money During New Mexico’s Small Business Saturday Gross Receipts Tax Holiday
Download the press release template (.docx file) to customize for your district and distribute to your local contacts.
Top 10 Reasons to Shop MainStreet
✦ Brick and mortar small businesses in the community are the backbone of the local economy.
✦ Small businesses are the heart of our community.
✦ The local economy thrives when resources are reinvested in the community.
✦ Businesses offer one-of-a-kind items and treasures.
✦ Shopping local supports artists, entrepreneurs, makers, and growers.
✦ Small businesses create local jobs.
✦ Local businesses are more likely to contribute to community charities.
✦ Money spent locally recirculates and strengthens the local tax-base.
✦ A vibrant local economy improves the quality of life for community members.
✦ Locals build community pride.
Top 10 Graphics – Generic
Below are graphics available to download and share. Click the image to download or this zip file to download all of them at once.
Top 10 Graphics – Local
Below are local graphics available to download and share. Click the image to download or this zip file to download all of them at once. To customize, click the Canva Template Link and select “Use template for new design” (you must be signed into Canva to get this option!)
Canva Template Link
Canva Template Link
Canva Template Link
Canva Template Link
Canva Template Link
Canva Template Link
Canva Template Link
Canva Template Link
Canva Template Link
Canva Template Link
Social Media Posts
- Shop at MainStreet businesses first during the holiday giving season to support your local community!
- Choose small businesses in MainStreet districts first during the holiday shopping season to keep dollars in the local economy.
- Shopping locally supports local jobs and a higher quality of life for the whole community. Shop MainStreet this holiday season!
- Show your thanks on Small Business Saturday, Nov. 25! Support locally owned MainStreet businesses by shopping small.
- November 25 is Small Business Saturday and New Mexico’s Gross Receipts Tax Holiday! Support locally owned MainStreet businesses this holiday season.
- On Small Business Saturday and throughout the holiday season, shop MainStreet businesses first for the ❤️ of local.
- Discover local treasures that bring joy by shopping in your MainStreet district during the holidays. Spread cheer and support your local community!
- Discover treasures in your local MainStreet district. For the ❤️ of local, Choose MainStreet!
- Shop MainStreet this holiday season to support local artists, makers, growers, and entrepreneurs!
- When money is spent at locally owned businesses, it has a greater impact than at businesses that are not locally owned because that money continues to recirculate in the community.
- There’s no place like MainStreet for the holidays! Spread holiday cheer and shop local.
- There’s no place like MainStreet for the holidays! Choose local MainStreet businesses first during the giving season.
- Put your money where your ❤️ is by shopping MainStreet for the love of local!
- When you support MainStreet businesses, you support someone’s dream. For the ❤️ of local, Choose MainStreet.
Previous Shop MainStreet Holiday Resources
- 2022 Small Business Saturday Choose MainStreet Campaign
- 2021 Small Business Saturday Choose MainStreet Campaign
- 2020 Small Business Saturday Webinar Presentation
- 2020 Choose MainStreet Shop Local Campaign
- 2018 Shop MainStreet Kit & Poster
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