Stand Tall, Shop Small for OKC this holiday season

As the shopping season kicks off this weekend with Small Business Saturday, the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber is encouraging shoppers to support local retail this holiday season.

The 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.

Learn more about Small Business Saturday in OKC.

“When spent locally, the impact of every dollar is magnified,” said Roy Williams, president & CEO of the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber. “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 due to worldwide shipping constraints is another reason to shop local according to Tammy Fate, senior manager of retail development for the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber.

“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. With the supply chain issues facing the country, it makes more sense than ever to shop local,” said Fate.

If you prefer to shop online Fate said that local retailers are still a great option.

“A lot of our local shops had to pivot to online commerce during the pandemic,” said Fate. “We have seen a lot of them have success online and now they offer great selections of local items on their websites.”

The holiday shopping season unofficially kicks off with Small Business Saturday on Nov. 27. Small Business Saturday is a nationwide movement to drive shoppers to shop local and recognize the impact small businesses make on our community.

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, signage, use the #ShopSmallForOKC hashtag and follow Oklahoma City’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 https://www.visitokc.com/about-okc/okc-districts/.

Get an update from experts on OKC's retail industry. 

“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.”