Small Business Saturday Success!
In just the 6th National Small Business Saturday event and the 4th year the Bismarck Downtowners have been a Neighborhood Champion, Small Business Saturday continues to grow! Nationally $16.2 Billion was spent (Up 14% from 2014), 95 Million Consumers Shopped Small (Up 8% from 2014), and 4,100 Neighborhood Champions registered (Up 48% from 2014).
Comparatively, National Black Friday sales were flat or slightly down and Cyber Monday sales had double digit percentage gains.
Thank you to everyone who came Downtown to support our local independent businesses on Small Business Saturday and our owner/operators for participating in this important event. Business owners are continuing with sales and specials through the rest of the holiday season!
Association News
Members American Lung Association and Tobacco Free North Dakota are hosting their Holiday Open House from 10am-2pm at 212 N 2nd Street. Be sure to stop by!
Member Caffe Aroma will be having Coffee with Santa on December 12 from 11am-1pm. Get your picture with Santa and enjoy free apple cider and cookies, plus check out other amazing deals that include 16oz specialty of lattes for $3.50, 2 bags of bulk coffee for $15 and 10% off all gift baskets. Caffe Aroma is located at 120 N. 3rd Street.
Member Dakota Stage Ltd. will be hosting a celebration of the great Frank Sinatra on Dec 10-13. Sinatra’s Boozin’ and Bakin’ 100th Birthday Bash and Spectacular Birthday Basket Raffle will be in conjunction with their production Christmas My Way. There will be signature cocktails and special homemade baked goods in celebration of Frank Sinatra’s 100th birthday. All food and beverage items are available for a free will donation and an amazing birthday basket of Sinatra swag will be raffled off. All proceeds benefit the continued betterment and beautification of the historic Dakota Stage Theater.www.dakotastageltd.com
Member Bis-Man Transit will be dedicating a portion of its para-transit vehicles and drivers to vehicles for athletes and coaches Dec 10-12, for the 2015 Paralympics CanAm Open Swim Meet. The system will also utilize one larger CAT bus for para-transit only rides.Customers can call the para-transit scheduling office at (701) 223-9001 to speak with a dispatcher from 8am-5pm. Some routes may be altered to the public, to find out more please visit http://bismantransit.com.
Holiday Window Decorating Contest
Each year the Downtowners host a Member Holiday Window Decorating contest. Simply submit a picture of your window to the Downtowners by December 16. Prizes will be awarded to 1st through 3rd Place and a Critic’s Choice award. There is no set theme, just great engaging windows! Email Kate@Downtownbismarck.com to submit your window. Good luck!
Downtown News
Although the snow is melting quickly, just a refresher about snow removal procedures in the Downtown area. Sidewalks are to be cleared (including curb cuts at the intersections) within 24 hours after snowfall. The City of Bismarck, depending on snow amounts may also remove snow ridges on sidewalks created by plows where possible. This generally happens overnight, so be just to check the posted cleaning times or with the City of Bismarck for more information.