Busy Holiday Kick-off for Cedar Falls Main Street

With Thanksgiving, the holiday season officially begins, and Cedar Falls shoppers can rejoice.

Though most shoppers have likely been saturated with ads from big-box retailers and chains hyping Black Friday, reliably the busiest shopping day of the year, local businesses are also hoping for a healthy boost of customers flocking to their premises in search of ideal gifts.

Encouraging local holiday spending is the second annual Small Business Saturday, a national initiative designed to send holiday dollars in the direction of smaller retailers. Last year saw Cedar Falls Community Main Street as one of three communities highlighted by American Express, which sponsors the campaign.

“We are continuing that momentum,” said Carol Lilly, executive director of Community Main Street. “It’s an effort to remember your local businesses and give people the chance to say, ‘Hey, shop with us, we’re your neighbors, we’re your friends.’”

Is your local business doing something special for Black Friday or Small Business Saturday? Let readers know in the comments.

Small Business Saturday makes heavy use of social networking for promotion, as well as one other inviting incentive: Shoppers who register an eligible American Express card and use it to purchase $25 or more at a small business on Saturday can receive a $25 statement credit.

“Dollar for dollar if you shop with a locally owned independent retailer $.65 stays in the community, as opposed to $.40 from a chain or big box, or zero percent from online purchases,” Lilly said.

Shoppers can seek out Black Friday deals such as those at Lillians of Cedar Falls, which will have a different special every hour, at , where sales will include 50 percent off many camera accessories, or enjoy local treats at , which opens a new and improved location that day.

Residents looking to get into the Christmas spirit will also finds lots to love on Main Street this Friday. Running from 6 to 8 p.m. is the Holiday Hoopla Kick-Off, which offers live music, a parade, the lighting of a tree, Santa and fireworks popping over the Cedar River.