Snyder merchants prepared for holiday shoppers

As Black Friday and Small Business Saturday rapidly approach, downtown Snyder merchants would like to remind the community to do their Christmas shopping locally.
Black Friday is when many major retail stores host sales to kick off the Christmas shopping season.
Small Business Saturday, the Saturday after Thanksgiving, was first celebrated in 2010 to promote and support small businesses.
Some of the downtown merchants will hold Black Friday sales and some will extend hours on Tuesdays and Thursdays through Christmas.
Most have said they would be open Friday and Saturday so Snyder shoppers can get a start on Christmas shopping without leaving town.
By shopping locally, consumers can help grow their town’s economy.
“I’ve been here for 28 years,” Lyn Lancaster, owner of Classic Interiors said. “If they shop and spend their dollars local, the money circulates and helps everyone. My dad had a grocery store for 40 years. He taught us to shop local first.”
Lancaster said people may be surprised by the variety of goods and services offered in Snyder.
“There’s a lot of variety in Snyder in what local merchants have to offer, so I encourage people to shop local first,” she said.
She said she feels there is more of a personal touch when people shop in their own communities.
“Great things happen in small communities so I think it’s important for people to invest in our community and our home,” she said.
Fay Sims, owner of Granny Fay’s, wishes more people would shop locally.
“I think everybody ought to shop locally more,” she said.
Jeff Lowrance, owner of Western Auto, said shoppers can actually save money shopping in Snyder.
“(Shopping local) is all positive,” Lowrance said. “For sure, you need to shop local. We are 90 miles from the closest big city so you’ll spend more money than what you’ll save and don’t forget your $50 meal.”
Susan Griffith, owner of Just D’vine, said she feels it is important to shop locally.
“It’s our livelihood. It’s what keeps us open and we appreciate all of our local support,” she said.
Pam Robertson, owner of Mason Jar Mercantile, said that she had a lot of shoppers during the chamber’s Sip and Shop earlier this month.
“We want to thank the community,” Robertson said. “People do support their local businesses, they really do.”
Michelle Bird, owner of Blessed Nest, said that her store will offer special sale pricing on items Friday and Saturday.
W.R. Whistlestop owner Rita House said business has been very good.
“Everything that happens around the square has helped,” House said. “A lot more people have been coming in. There is more enthusiasm for shopping. I encourage everybody to shop at home and I appreciate people shopping at home.”
“We are all for shopping local,” said Phyllis Box, owner of Me’N Marcus. “I think if more people knew how many retail shops were on the square were open, they’d be surprised.”
Rodney Dupree, owner of the Blossom Bucket, said he feels it is very important that tax dollars stay in Snyder.
“If we have an employee, that employee gets paid and spends tax dollars here,” Dupree said. “My employees will have more money to spend here, go out to eat here and the same goes with owners.”