Winterfest 2021: Shop local, and your town's small businesses will thank you

The holidays are fast approaching and so, too, are the friends and family expecting gifts under the Christmas tree and expensive meals at the dinner table. Big businesses will try to ease your holiday shopping burden with special offers like free shipping or buy-one-get-one-free, but more often than not, the best deals can be found locally.

Whether you’re preparing a large Thanksgiving dinner, loading up on tasty holiday delights, or just looking for Christmas gifts sure to bring a smile to the face of your children, it can all be found right here in Eddy County.

For many small businesses around town, the holiday season is the most lucrative time of the year and, in many cases, vital to making their ends meet. Thanks to a global pandemic and travel restrictions a year ago, our local merchants were denied much of that revenue in 2020.

However, this holiday season brings with it new hope for small businesses and should provide a much-needed revenue boost as the new year kicks off. So, don’t just shop online for your Christmas gifts or travel to another county for your New Years’ dinner - our local businesses are relying on us to spend our money here at home.

With that being said, here are five tips for how to provide the most benefit to Eddy County’s local businesses this holiday season:

• Leave a “Like.” In this age of technology and social media, having an online presence is a necessity for most businesses. Many of the merchants in town have a Facebook page where they share holiday deals and other happenings at their business. Leaving a like, sharing a post, and leaving a positive comment can go a long way to help businesses grow and get the word out about their holiday specials.

• Tell a friend! Nothing can replace good old fashioned word of mouth. When you’ve had a good shopping experience or enjoyed a great product, don’t just leave a like on their Facebook page, tell a friend! Spreading the word about great deals is perhaps the best advertising a business can get in a small community.

• Read the paper. Speaking of advertising, businesses in New Rockford will have advertisements in the New Rockford Transcript throughout this holiday season. Once you’ve read through the week’s stories, be sure to scour the paper for the best holiday offers this year.

• Take advantage while you can! If there was ever a time to take advantage of great sales, it’s the holiday season. However, the best deals won’t last forever, so don’t pass up the opportunity to fill your shopping cart with everything you need for the holiday season and beyond.

• Tip generously. The restaurant industry has been among the hardest hit during this pandemic, and it’s been hurting their employees harder still. Whether you’re enjoying breakfast at the Rockford Cafe, dinner at the Golf Course, or enjoying any of the wonderful food establishments in Eddy County, remember to leave a generous tip for good service!