November 2016

Another Shopping Holiday?

This is getting exhausting! Since shopping deals started creeping not-so-stealthily from the early hours of Friday to the late (then not-so-late) hours of Thanksgiving Day, Americans have been saying “that’s enough!” There’s even a whole movement, led in part by outdoors-focused companies like Patagonia, encouraging alternative Black Friday celebrations. But whether you sacrifice your post-feast nap to snag a great deal, stand in line for umpteen hours, or spend your Friday hiking off your Thursday, there’s good reason to indulge in retail therapy on Saturday.

Support your Hometown Heroes!

After the door-busters are gone and the lines have died down, you know who will still be around? The local shops, artisans, and service providers who call Rochester home. Between Black Friday and Cyber Monday, there’s a quieter, lesser-known shopping holiday known as Small Business Saturday. These mom-and-pop shops may not have the big bucks to offer 80% discounts and advertise them on national TV, but you can count on them to invest in our local community. This locally focused event, founded in 2010 by American Express, is now in its 6th year and steadily gaining momentum. Even the little guys find ways to offer savings, so be sure to set aside a bit of your gift budget for Saturday.

Our VIP Program Sponsors are small businesses, too!

Not sure where to begin your local shopping adventure? Start with the lineup of local brick-and-mortar businesses listed in our 2016 Resident VIP Perks Program! Not only do these enterprises bring life to our local community — they also value the members of our community. As the year draws to a close, enjoy a bit of extra savings and let these sponsors know how much we appreciate them.