FARMINGTON – Do something big for your local retailers and shop small on Saturday.
To entice holiday gift buyers to stay local when looking for that special gift, many of the downtown Farmington merchants are participating in Small Business Saturday on Nov. 29 by offering discount specials (many are listed below).
Small Business Saturday was founded four years ago by American Express to help promote small businesses by encouraging people to shop locally.
The downtown area is ready for all of the season’s shop local supporters with holiday lights installed at Meetinghouse Park’s gazebo, along with wreaths and lights on the street light poles.
The Farmington Downtown Association sponsored the decoration with several people helping to put them up this week. Mike Manser, Junior Turner, Allen Danforth, Richard McGraw worked with a crew from the town’s Highway Department to install it all.
Businesses are also getting into the spirit of things by adding white lights, wreathes and many other festive holiday decorations to their storefronts, said Gloria McGraw of the FDA board.
To help get around to all the shops, there will be free horse-drawn wagon rides, also sponsored by the FDA, on Small Business Saturday, Nov 29.
Below is a listing of many of the special discounts offered on Saturday. So go shop and celebrate our small retailers by visiting them on Small Business Saturday.
Divine Inspirations will be offering 20 percent off store wide, on both gifts and footwear, for Small Business Saturday. Additionally many footwear styles are already discounted more than 20 percent off. Come enjoy the savings! (This is actually a two-day sale for both Black Friday and Small Business Saturday)
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Minikins will be offering 15 percent off all Melissa and Doug Toys and 20 percent off all Minikins brand fleece wear on Small Business Saturday.
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SugarWood Gallery will offer “Price Reduction on Selected Items”
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Front Street Mercantile will be offering 20 percent off storewide.
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Pins & Needles will be offering 10 percent off all regular priced items in store.
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Twice Sold Tales will be offering in-store specials.
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Trask Jewelers is having a Retirement Sale – Discounts up to 50 percent off – Everything must go!
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Upfront & Pleasant Gourmet will be offering in-store specials and complimentary samples.
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3 D Games will be offering:
20% off all used systems and handhelds
10% off select new games
20% off pre-played games
20% off all clothing
20% off necklaces, key chains and charms
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The Calico Patch is offering these specials Black Friday, Shop Local Saturday until Cider Monday, Nov. 28 – Dec. 1.
Get a free Collapsible Duffel with a Vera Bradley purchase of $125. or more. A $48. value!
Purchase a Vera Bradley Throw Blanket, and receive a second one for half price!
Black Friday Only:
Enter to win a gift basket with any purchase.
Alex & Ani Bracelets 15 percent off- this one day only!!!
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Chickadee’s Nest will be offering 10 percent off store wide.
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Devaney, Doak and Garrett – Indies First comes back to Farmington this Small Business Saturday! Instead of giving readings and book signings, authors spend part of the day working as booksellers. By doing so, people are revitalizing the local economy, supporting small businesses, and encouraging reading. DDG Booksellers is pleased to add both Jennifer Finney Boylan, from 10 a.m. to noon and Maria Padian from noon to 2 p.m. to their staff for the day. There will also be a very special reading at 1 p.m. of B.J Novak’s The Book With No Pictures by Maine’s attorney general, Janet Mills.
The reading of The Book With No Pictures has an added perk. Author B.J. Novak is sponsoring a video contest for the best, most entertaining reading of the book. The winner will receive $5,000. If Mills’ reading is chosen as the winner, the money will be distributed by event sponsor DDG to buy books for the libraries of local schools. Be sure to come out and give Janet Mills the best audience possible to support our schools!
