Small Business Saturday Event Continues to Grow

Fallon's "Shop Small" event on Saturday, November 29, showcased more local businesses than ever before, according to Lucy Carnahan, Executive Director of the Fallon Chamber of Commerce. The event, known for its inviting and easily walkable layout, was coordinated by both the Chamber and the Churchill Entrepreneur Development Association (CEDA).  Photo: Our own Shania Brown at the welcome center.

Participants were encouraged to begin their shopping experience at the Old Post Office, where they could visit the first group of approximately twelve out of a total of forty-seven participating vendors. Upon arrival, shoppers received a complimentary gift canvas tote bag and a bingo card, which they filled out by visiting merchants along their route. These bingo cards were then entered into a prize drawing held later that afternoon at the Oats Park Art Center during a reception for the Honeycomb Project, currently exhibited in the Art Center’s gallery.

Fallon’s annual event is part of the national Shop Small initiative, sponsored by American Express and launched 16 years ago. The Fallon Chamber began participating in 2015, making this the event’s tenth year in the community. According to Carnahan, the 200 gift totes available on a first-come, first-served basis are usually claimed before lunchtime. She estimated that approximately 350 shoppers visited the official list of merchants on Saturday morning, with store owners noting higher-than-usual customer traffic for a brisk November morning.

Observations along Maine Street, supported by information from the county assessor’s website, indicate that downtown Fallon is experiencing significant growth. There are more active developments, more successful businesses, and fewer vacant properties than at any point in the past three decades.

Looking ahead, next year’s gift bags will feature a special golden ticket redeemable for a $250 Visa gift card sponsored by CEDA, as announced by CEDA Director Sara Beebe-Wolken. Carnahan also encourages local entrepreneurs interested in participating to contact the Chamber early to ensure their businesses, operating hours, and special offers are included in the official event listing.