Column by Kyle Kramm
The bustle of the holiday season is in full force as everyone counts down to Christmas Day, which means hunting for that perfect gift for family and friends. Seguin offers a variety of retail shops and restaurants to explore and find those ideal presents. These small businesses are the backbone of Seguin’s economy – creating jobs and wealth for their employees while investing their profits back into their business and community.
Shopping local helps your community, your neighbor, and yourself. Shopping with a local, small, independent business keeps $68 for every $100 spent in the local economy, versus $43 when spent at a national retailer and even less when spent online. That is money invested in Seguin’s infrastructure, parks, police and fire, and quality of life improvements. Shopping at a local business is helping your neighbor’s dream come true and supporting their family, versus going to shareholders across the country. And finally, you benefit by shopping local by lessening the distance you travel, meaning a savings on gas.
Shopping local doesn’t stop with just our local boutiques and retail shops. When you start to think outside the box, there are lots of small businesses you can support outside the traditional brick-and-mortar retailers. Here are a few quick ideas:
Commission a Piece of Art – Seguin is filled with talented artists in all sorts of mediums from watercolors and clay to fiber and pencils. Need help finding a local artist? The Seguin Art League’s web site, www.SeguinArtLeague.com, lists their members with websites and contact information.
A Day of Pampering – Have that special someone who always is taking care of others but never themselves? Provide them a day of pampering with a gift certificate for a session with esthetician Karly Noyola at Kueen Esthetique. Or book them a tooth whitening session with the Whitening Lounge on River Street. Perhaps a massage is more up their alley – the Hair Haus has a variety of massage options to consider.
A Staycation – Book your friends and family a night away in downtown Seguin. The Seguin Travel Company, located in downtown Seguin, offers ten loft apartments in the downtown district for overnight stays. Or if fright is their thing, book them a stay at the Magnolia Hotel with all the ghost hunting equipment. Make it a full get away package with gift certificates to downtown restaurants and stores.
Donate in Honor – Perhaps you are trying to find a gift for that person who has everything – consider making a donation to a Seguin nonprofit in their honor. Are they passionate about the arts – donate to Seguin Art League or Teatro de Artes. Do they love animals? Donate to Waggin Tailz or Animal Rescue Foundation. There is no shortage of quality nonprofits that are all working to improve the quality of life in Seguin.
Find the Makers – In a time of uncertain shipping, now is the time to look for our local makers, like Gretchen Bee Ranch. Gretchen Bee Ranch has a variety of honeys and candles all produced from local bees. Other local Seguin makers include Noni’s Natural Soaps, a producer of natural soaps and body care products; Sassy Mae Creations, a producer of car aromies; Designer Custom Leather, a producer of purses, jewelry, and more; and E Norman Shoemaker, a bespoke shoemaker. All these makers live in Seguin – connect with them via their social media channels.
So, remember, shopping local means so much more than supporting our brick-and-mortar retailers. It’s the personal service providers, the local art community, the lodging facilities, the local makers, and nonprofit organizations. A thriving Seguin means a strong mixture of businesses backed with the support of their neighbors.
This holiday season and all year long, shop local, shop small, shop Seguin. •