Beginning on Small Business Saturday, November 30, and continuing until Tuesday, December 24, pick up a Holiday Shopping Trail passport at participating venues in eastern CT. Collect stickers by visiting, shopping or dining local at venues listed in the passport. The stickers enter you into a drawing for prizes, including gift cards and certificates, gadgets, or even a free roundtrip airfare to Ireland courtesy of Aer Lingus! For a list of passport pick-up locations and participating businesses, visit WindhamChamber.com or see the list below.
The Windham Region Chamber of Commerce invites everyone in Eastern CT to be a part of the 10th Annual Small Business Saturday presented by AmericanExpress on Saturday, November 30. The Chamber is the “Neighborhood Champion” for Northeast CT and has hosted similar events promoting the businesses in the region since the beginning of the program.
In the midst of the recession in 2010 American Express created Small Business Saturday® on the Saturday after Thanksgiving to encourage people to Shop Small and bring more holiday shopping to small businesses. In 2011, the Senate unanimously passed a resolution in support of the day, and officials in all 50 states participate.
In 2013, more than 1,400 individuals and organizations sign up as Neighborhood Champions to rally and support their local communities with events and activities on Small Business Saturday. By 2018, there were more than 7,500 Neighborhood Champions across all 50 states. Beginning in 2011, business associations, nonprofit trade groups, municipalities, and public officials started to unite, forming a Small Business Saturday Coalition to encourage everyone to Shop Small. And nearly 100 corporations lend their official support to the movement. The Windham Region Chamber of Commerce has joined this Coalition as part of their Shop Small mission.
It is estimated that for every dollar spent at a small business in the U.S., approximately 67 cents stays in the local community. So when you Shop Small on Small Business Saturday—and all year long—it can help add up to a big impact. Small Business Saturday spending has now reached a reported estimate of $103 billion.
“Shopping at small businesses helps make our community vibrant. It encourages other small businesses to start up which enhances our overall quality of life here in Eastern CT,” says Diane Nadeau, President and CEO of the Windham Region Chamber of Commerce. “Not only that, these small businesses are responsible for the majority of jobs created in the region and are major donors, sponsors and philanthropists in our community. They support organizations ranging from Girl Scouts to Little League to the local Soup Kitchen. So please take a day and shop local here in the towns where you live.”
For more information about the Holiday Shopping Passport Trail please visit WindhamChamber.com or call the Chamber at 860-423-6389.
The Chamber of Commerce is a non-profit organization that serves Eastern CT. Our mission to help businesses be more successful by providing networking opportunities, professional development, business advocacy and free support and mentoring services.
Company name | Street address | City |
Over And Over Barntique | 415 Route 6 | Andover |
eyeTrade Optical Shop | 1197 Main Street | Coventry |
Lilium Florist | 86 Main Street | Danielson |
Wireless Zone of Killingly | 1105 Killingly Commons Dr | Killingly |
Pizza Mike’s Pizzeria | 1659 Storrs road | Mansfield |
The Hoot | 86 Storrs Rd | Mansfield |
Holiday Hill Day Camp | 41 Chaffeeville Road | Mansfield |
The Emporium by Windham Arts | East Brook Mall 95 Storrs Road | Mansfield |
The Windows Art Gallery | 112 Main Street Unit 3 | Putnam |
WorkLocal | 112 Main Street Unit #6 | Putnam |
Renee’s Working Girl Catering Service | 142 School St. | Putnam |
The Courthouse Bar and Grille | 121 Main Street | Putnam |
Victoria Station Cafe | 91 Main Street | Putnam |
Lilium Florist | 350 Kennedy Drive | Putnam |
Antiques marketplace | 109 Main Street | Putnam |
Arts and Framing | 136 Main Street | Putnam |
August & March Home | 130 Main Street | Putnam |
Flying Carpet Studio | 112 Main st. # 12 | Putnam |
Green Valley Glass | 22 South Main Street | Putnam |
K’s Sweet Spot | 112 Main Street | Putnam |
Twigs and Pearls | 136 Main St. | Putnam |
Wireless Zone of Putnam | 207 Kennedy Dr | Putnam |
Wonderland Comics | 160 Main St. | Putnam |
Bens Beans Coffee Roasters | 164 Main Street | Putnam |
Miller Brothers VP Fuel | 801 Windham Rd. | South Windham |
All Sleep | 885 Windham Rd. | South Windham |
Ladd’s Garden/ Fairy Hop Gift Shop | 671 Windham Road | South Windham |
Artisans at Middle River | 60 Main Street | Stafford Springs |
Red Barn Creamery/Stearns Farm | 483 Browns Rd | Storrs |
Tolland Red and White | 46 Tolland Green | Tolland |
Dawn’s Designs | 69 bridge street plaza | Willimantic |
Thread City Diner | 931 Main Street | Willimantic |
Mackey’s | 249 Columbia Ave | Willimantic |
The Mill Museum Gift Shop | 411 Main Street | Willimantic |
Willimantic Food Coop | 91 Valley Street | Willimantic |
Plumgully Farm | 69 Bricktop Rd | Windham |
Logistics | 361 Boston Post Rd | North Windham |
Wireless Zone of North Windham | 361 Boston Post Rd | North Windham |