CHAMBER News:

The holiday shopping season is always critical to local small businesses. This year’s Small Business Saturday is Nov. 25 and will bring much-needed focus to small, local businesses.

Following are some of the activities happening around Los Alamos for Small Business Saturday:

Blue Bucks Promotion

• Enterprise Bank & Trust will again sponsor the award-winning Blue Bucks Promotion, which will run from Friday, Nov. 24 through Saturday, Dec. 9. Just like last year, each minimum purchase of $0.01-$25 will receive one ticket, then one ticket for each additional $25 spent. As in the past, purchases made in person or online on the actual Small Business Saturday, Nov. 25, will be worth double tickets!
• Shopping or eating at participating businesses will give participants a chance to win great cash and gift card prizes, courtesy of Enterprise Bank & Trust!
• There will be (1) $1,000 cash prize, (1) $500 cash prize, (1) $250 cash prize, and many gift certificates or merchandise from participating businesses! And of course, the business that gives out the $1,000 winning ticket will also receive $1,000!
• Participating businesses and organizations will be highlighted in the print edition of the Los Alamos Daily Post Special Small Business Saturday section that comes out Wednesday, Nov. 22, and will also be highlighted through social media.

Holiday Shopping Guide

• The Los Alamos MainStreet and Creative District, and the Chamber will again produce the Los Alamos Holiday Shopping Guide, made possible by Del Norte Credit Union. The Holiday Shopping Guide highlights unique products or services that you can purchase right here in town! The shopping guide will also be published in the Los Alamos Daily Post Special Small Business Saturday section.

Small Business Saturday Tax Holiday

• Don’t forget that Saturday, Nov. 25, is also once again a New Mexico Gross Receipts Tax Holiday! For this one day, the state suspends the collection of gross receipts tax on sales of qualifying items at certain small businesses. Plan to get holiday shopping done locally on that day! For more information visit: https://www.tax.newmexico.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/B-200.31.pdf.

Los Alamos Businesses that sell Gift Cards

• Also, as part of Small Business Saturday, the Chamber, along with Los Alamos MainStreet and Creative District, will again produce a list of the businesses in town that sell gift cards. Gift cards make great gifts and are an easy way to show support for small businesses. Send the list to out-of-town relatives to make their holiday shopping easy!

So why settle for just one day?

• Support local businesses this holiday season. Remember: Shop Small to Win Big! Small Business Saturday is not just a promotion for Chamber members or businesses located in the MainStreet district. Any brick-and-mortar retail business located in Los Alamos County should participate in this free promotion!

For more information or to sign up to participate, visit the Los Alamos Chamber site (https://losalamoschamber.chambermaster.com/events/) or contact Ryn Herrmann at ryn@losalamos.org or 505.661.4807.