PANAMA CITY — While many holiday shoppers seeking flat-screen HDTVs likely will head to big box stores, those seeking something one-of-a-kind might head somewhere a bit smaller.
“I think the positive thing about small business is, when you really want to give a unique gift, you can go to a small business,” said Paul Brent, the owner of Paul Brent Gallery in downtown Panama City. “That’s something you just can’t go to a big box store and find.”
Brent and other small business owners across Bay County are gearing up for Small Business Saturday this weekend, a nationwide movement to drive shoppers to local merchants that began in 2010.
This year, the Bay County Chamber of Commerce partnered with American Express to promote Small Business Saturday and will be distributing special “passbooks” to chamber members that feature about 40 small businesseses in the area.
Participating shoppers who carry their passbooks Saturday can receive signatures from each business visited and qualify to win prizes.
Click for a link to participating chamber members
“Since it started, we’ve been participating because it’s something we really believe in,” Brent said. “I think shopping small business for the holidays is something people are becoming more aware of.”
Paul Brent Gallery opened back in 1990, offering paintings and crafts from national and regional artists and Brent’s own home décor designs, including pillows, picture frames and bath accessories. But Brent attributed the gallery’s success to a good customer base and an offering of art that is truly Panama City.
“By painting images of our area, it really makes our gallery unique,” Brent said. “It’s something you really can’t find anywhere else.”
This is the first year the chamber has taken a proactive approach to promoting the event, but Brittany Cole, vice president of communications, said it’s something the organization plans on continuing.
“Eighty-five percent of our membership is small businesses, and that’s businesses with 35 or fewer employees,” Cole said. “We are advocates for our members and want to really promote people getting out there and spending money locally this year.”
Cole said the more money spent locally in Bay County, the more money will stay in Bay County.
“You have Black Friday, which is fantastic, followed by Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday,” Cole said. “Everyone gets a piece of the pie, so it’s just a good weekend all around.”