Small Business Saturday in Tully and Everywhere We Call “Home”

Small Business Saturday, which is observed the Saturday after Thanksgiving (on the heels of the Black Friday shopping phenomenon), began as a time to support small and independent businesses, strengthen local economies and highlight the important role small businesses play in their communities. Shoppers often make an intentional visit to their favorite small businesses on this day to show their support, and businesses often offer special sales or events to thank their patrons for supporting them.

If you think about it, when you list the small businesses in your community- these are the places that help define your “hometown”. When an out-of-town friend or family member comes to visit you for the first time, or if you were tasked with describing your hometown to a stranger, how would you describe it? What experiences and places would you recommend? What routines or traditions have a well-worn path in your life? Many of us would describe the best parts of our communities with places and the experiences & people linked to them – “This is a fantastic place to go- you have to try it!”

“You should stop here, they make the best cup of coffee!” “I love the Friday night specials here, I never miss it!” “I always get my haircut here, she does a great job” “You can find that there- it is so convenient and they have a good selection.” “Let’s meet here tomorrow night- they have great drinks and music!” “If I need something, I always go here because I know they will help me take care of it” “You should call, they do excellent work” “I love that place, their food is so good and the people are so nice!”  “That’s my favorite spot for lunch- you should try it.” “Just head over- they will help you find what you need.” 

It’s these types of places- the ones we frequent and that we would recommend to others that make our town unique and that make our town “home.”

From a small business perspective, our customers make it possible all year long. Small Business Saturday is a day of customer appreciation and to acknowledge how fortunate we are to be part of the community we are in. It is something truly special to be on a first-name basis with many of your customers, to remember what projects they are working on and talk about how it’s going, or see them on a regular basis. Looking back at the past year, we hold a lot of gratitude for the outpouring of support and encouragement from our local community, customers, and friends. This holiday season, we want to offer a heartfelt thank you for shopping with us.  We will continue to work to be a place that fits into the patchwork of hometown businesses in the Tully community and we look forward to helping each time our door opens. 

—The whole crew at Nightingale’s Tully Lakes Ace Hardware