Mesquite Shops Locally On Small Business Saturday

By VERNON ROBISON

The Progress

Local shop owners reported doing a brisk business last weekend at the annual Small Business Saturday event held on Nov. 27 in Mesquite.

The event, sponsored by the Mesquite Chamber of Commerce in conjunction with American Express and the Small Business Saturday Coalition, is planned each year to encourage area residents to shop locally.

“The whole thing is really about reminding people that there are businesses just down the street where they can shop during the holidays,” said Chamber President/CEO Carol Kolson. “They don’t have to travel to big box stores or send their business off to online retailers. It can stay right here to help boost the local economy.”

A total of 14 Mesquite businesses were official participants in the day’s festivities. Many of these offered special sales or deals to celebrate Small Business Saturday. Merchants said that they were busy with customer traffic throughout the morning.

“So far it has been really good,” said Brian Boatright, manager at Mesquite Ace Hardware store. “We have been busy today. And I think that, just in general, the store has been busier because of the growth we have seen in the community.”

Boatright said that one of the big holiday attractions in the store has been their full lineup of barbecue grills, including a local favorite: the Traeger smoker.
“Last week we had a demo night showing what you can do with some of these grills,” Boatright said.

“Ever since then we have been selling them off the shelves. We keep assembling more of them to put out on the floor, but they are selling as fast as we are building them.”

Another holiday favorite at the store is the full inventory of power tools available, Boatright said. These include Milwaukee, DeWalt, Craftsman and other major brands.
The store has shelves full of Christmas lights and holiday decor items.
“We even have live Christmas trees for sale out in the parking lot,” Boatright said. “They are here, fresh from Oregon.”

There was also a lot of Shop Small Saturday action going on at Bark! Canine Club. Bark! owners Mark and Susan Hunter were in full holiday mode for the local canine set. A tent was set up in the parking lot in front of the Club where dog owners could get ‘pup portraits’ with both Santa Claus and The Grinch.
Santa had a special Bark! Pup Treat for each dog who came to get his/her photo taken with Santa. The treats were an original Bark! recipe prepared in the kitchen of Santa himself!

Local contractor Wade Hughes, who is working on the new location for the Bark! Canine Club park on the west side of town was present as a special guest at the event. Hughes said that everything is getting lined up to begin construction on the dog park facility within the next few months.

“Things will move pretty quickly after that,” said Susan Hunter. “We don’t anticipate having to spend another summer in this location.”

There was a steady stream of customers throughout the morning at The Front Porch Flowers and Gifts, according to Keeley Watkins and Zoe Zubia who were minding the shop on Saturday.

The first few customers of the morning received prize gift basket giveaways. In addition to that, the store was fully decked out for the holidays including free Christmas cookies for shoppers.

“We have had fun putting all of our Christmas stuff out for people to see,” said Watkins. “Before this, it has just been a few things for Christmas that we had out. But now it is good to finally jump all the way in to the holiday season.”

Watkins said that the store staff enjoys working with customers on arranging custom holiday decor for their homes.
“And of course, we have flowers that people can order for the holidays at this time of year,” Watkins added.

Across the street at the Mesquite Art Gallery, members of the Virgin Valley Artists Association (VVAA) were showcasing their work in a special Christmas Boutique sale which is running between now and Dec. 31.

Every three feet of table space in the gallery featured a different artist’s work. There was sculpture, glass work, jewelry, ceramics, pottery, photography, paintings and more; all priced for the local holiday shopper.
“Each item here is totally unique,” said VVAA attendant Jane Johnson. “When you purchase a gift here you won’t find another one quite like it anywhere.”

These were just a few of the participating merchants offering special event day specials on Saturday. Others included Rooster Cottage, Verizon, Danielle’s Chocolates and Popcorn, The Boutique at Stephen Hair, High Desert Design, Body & Soul Co-Op, Boulevard Home, Deep Roots Harvest, Desert Oasis Spa & Salon and Hole Foods Bakery.

Each store participated in an activity created by the Chamber of Commerce staff. Located in each of the shops was a hidden gnome figure that was handmade by Chamber staffers. Shoppers could go through each store to locate the gnome. They then dropped a ticket into a special gnome drawing box located at each store. Doing so would enter shoppers into a prize drawing.

This week, Chamber staff is collecting all of the gnome drawing boxes from each merchant and will draw for winners. Winners receive a $25 gift card for the store as well as the little gnome itself.

“It was great to see people out shopping locally today, rather than ordering a gift online,” Kolson said. “Plus you have the item in your hands when you leave so you know it won’t arrive late.”

Kolson expressed appreciation for all the participants in the successful event. “Thank you to everyone who purchased something on Saturday,” she said. “You are helping to retain businesses here and attract more business to come to Mesquite.”