Chamber's Stand Tall, Shop Small for OKC campaign launches for the holidays

The Greater Oklahoma City Chamber is relaunching its “Stand Tall, Shop Small for OKC” campaign. The Chamber wants residents to make sure to support the local shops and restaurants that help make Oklahoma City the community we all love, especially during the holiday shopping season.

“When spent locally, the impact of every dollar is magnified,” said Chamber President & CEO Roy Williams. “Those dollars stay in the community and help employ our family, friends and neighbors. They also provide the funding for critical city services.”

It has been estimated that for every dollar spent at a locally owned business, 67 cents stays in the community. City services in Oklahoma City are funded by sales tax which makes local spending vital to Oklahoma City’s continued growth.

Potentially delayed deliveries because of worldwide supply chain issues is another reason to shop local, according to Chamber officials. Shopping local not only lets you give unique gifts you can’t find anywhere else, but it also guarantees you will have your gifts when you need them. If you still prefer online shopping, many local shops now offer great selections of local items on their websites.

The Chamber will promote its Stand Tall, Shop Small for OKC campaign on its social media accounts, which can be found on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram. People are encouraged to get downloadable social media assets and signage at VeloCityOKC.com/shopsmall, use the #ShopSmallForOKC hashtag and follow OKC’s local districts’ social media accounts as well to keep up with their activities. A complete list of the districts, their top things to do, and their attractions can be found at visitokc.com/about-okc/okc-districts.

“We have seen encouraging signs that retail is bouncing back in a big way in Oklahoma City, but it is important to remember that retail was hit harder than anyone by the pandemic,” said Williams. “Small businesses still need community support and shopping local for your holiday gifts is a great way to positively impact Oklahoma City.”

This story originally appeared in the December 2021 edition of the VeloCity newsletter.