HANCOCK COUNTY — Small businesses have a huge impact on their communities, Frances Hull said.
She’s one of the owners of Greenfield-based Hometown Comics & Games, which, like many local small businesses, donates funds and products toward area nonprofit organizations’ fundraising efforts.
“When you shop local, you help out local groups because of that,” she said.
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Hometown Comics & Games is one of dozens of merchants across Hancock County offering specials on Small Business Saturday on Nov. 30. The day of deals, book-ended by Black Friday and Cyber Monday, encourages consumers to patronize local businesses for their holiday shopping.
Small Business Saturday falls within the Greenfield Area Chamber of Commerce’s We’ve Got Your Back Campaign. Businesses participating in the campaign, which is back for its second year, offer deals and collect charitable donations. This year, the campaign is collecting donations for Hancock County’s new child advocacy center, Zoey’s Place.
Retta Livengood, president of the chamber, said 22 merchants are participating in the We’ve Got Your Back Campaign, all of which will be getting bags, signs, decals, buttons, pens and other swag from American Express, which started Small Business Saturday in 2010.
Livengood said she and her colleagues at the chamber realize consumers can order goods with ease online. But shopping local helps ensure small businesses can continue supporting communities in the ways they always have, like sponsoring kids’ baseball teams and employing neighbors.
“When you walk in the door, you’re helping to pay for a lot of things,” Livengood said.
Hometown Comics & Games will be open 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday and is throwing in a free mystery game with every purchase of $30 or more. Hull described the promotion as a way for shoppers to get a gift for themselves or for another while they’re out doing their holiday shopping.
“People have been excited about it in the past,” she said.
Small Business Saturday has become more successful for the store over the years.
“It’s been getting better as more people learn about it and understand what it is,” Hull said.
Libby’s Ice Cream & Gifts at 11 S. Main St. in Fortville will be open 10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Saturday. Libby Wyatt, the shop’s owner, has found the shopping holiday fruitful in years past, when she owned StoreHouse in the same location.
“It’s always been a really successful day in Fortville,” she said. “…It’s a great program that recognizes the hard work and dedication that small business owners provide to their communities.”
Everything at Libby’s Ice Cream & Gifts will be on sale throughout the day. Customers will be able to save 20 percent on toy company Melissa & Doug catalog orders. Staff will be serving up special Christmas drinks in the ice cream part of the store.
Maduro on Main, also located at 11 S. Main St. in Fortville, will be open 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday. The cigar shop will have 20 percent off all humidors, ash trays and men’s apparel. Four-cigar sample packs will come with an additional free cigar while supplies last. Business owner Larry Harnish is also considering some surprise door-buster deals as well.
It will be Harnish’s first Small Business Saturday after opening last winter. He said he’s not sure what to expect, but knows his shop has been received well so far. And not just by men, he added, but women on the lookout for gifts as well.
He echoed Hull’s, Livengood’s and Wyatt’s sentiments on the importance of locally owned businesses.
“Just look at all the small communities around Indiana,” Harnish said. “There’s great restaurants, there’s great shops, there’s great boutiques; there’s great people working in them.”
He admits customers can find cigars he sells cheaper online. But they don’t get the experience of browsing through humidors, trying on a fedora or having a conversation with a connoisseur.
And there’s no holiday spirit online either, he continued.
“You just miss all that,” he said.
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Twenty-two local businesses are offering holiday specials through Dec. 31. Some are offering Small Business Saturday specials. More information about the offers can be seen on the campaign’s website, localfirstgreenfield.com.
Participating businesses are:
Applebee’s Grill + Bar, 1792 N. State St., Greenfield
applebees.com
317-462-3004
Barrett Supplies and Equipment, 4162 N. EMS Boulevard, Greenfield
barrettsupplies.com
317-594-6010
Bookkeeping Plus, 232 E. McClarnon Drive, Greenfield
bookplusinc.com
(317) 462-2049
Carrington Homes, 8250 N. 600W, Suite G, McCordsville
carringtonhomes.com
317-336-8002
Chicago’s Pizza, 1031 N. State St., Greenfield
chicagospizza.com
317-462-3131
Cynthia’s Hallmark, 1584 N. State St., Greenfield
cynthiashallmarkstores.com
(317) 462-6749
Daily Reporter, 22 W. New Road, Greenfield
greenfieldreporter.com
(317) 462-5528
Dave’s Express Car Wash, 1649 W. Main St., Greenfield
davesexpresscare.com
317-477-WASH
Ella June’s Boutique and Gift Store, 13 W. Main St., Greenfield
ellajunes.com
(317) 477-5863
Hancock Health, 801 N. State St., Greenfield
hancockregionalhospital.org
317-462-5544
Harvest Land Cooperative, 230 W. Osage St., Greenfield
harvestlandcoop.com/Locations/Greenfield-Store
317-462-5551
Highsmith Guns, 123 N. State St., Greenfield
hsguns.com
317-462-6290
Hometown Comics and Games, 1040 N. State St., Greenfield
hometowncomicsandgames.com
(317) 467-9050
Inskeep Ford, 2561 W. Main St., Greenfield
inskeepford.com
(317) 462-1470
Joyner Homes, 123 W. Main St., Greenfield
joynerhomesonline.com
(317) 468-2330
Leo’s Market & Eatery, 2212 W. Main St., Greenfield
yourleos.com
317-318-1946
Miller’s Jewelry, 60 W. McClarnon Drive, Greenfield
millersjewelrygreenfield.com
(317) 462-6365
NineStar Connect, 2243 E. Main St., Greenfield
ninestarconnect.com
317-326-3131
Penny’s Florist Home Decor & More, 1311 W. Main St., Greenfield
pennysflorist.net
(317) 462-5863
Price Eye Care Inc., 946 N. State St., Greenfield
priceeyecare.com
(317) 462-3937
Stillinger Family Funeral Home, 1780 W. Main St., Greenfield
stillingerfamilyfuneralhome.com
317-462-5536
Strike Force Lanes, 1539 W. Main St., Greenfield
strikeforcelanes.com
(317) 477-2695
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