TEXARKANA - The holiday shopping season is upon us and Texarkana's Chamber of Commerce wants you to bring your business to our local merchants. Small Business Saturday is returning for year two, but due to current circumstances, the chamber is tweaking things a bit.
"Last year, shoppers went to various locations, getting stamps on a passport," said Natalie Haywood, chamber director of events and communications. "This year, they can do that and we have passports at the chamber offices."
This year, much of the campaign will be augmented by social media.
"Shoppers are encouraged to visit locally owned businesses, take a selfie there with the hashtag #shopsmallTXK. Post it on Facebook and Instagram," she said. "All photos will be put in a drawing for gifts. All photos must be either public or on our Small Business Saturday Challenge event page, which will be on Facebook."
Several local groups are involved in this effort: The Chamber, city officials from both Texarkanas, Main Street Texarkana and Greater Texas Young Professionals. It ends on Dec. 4.
During the campaign, Small Business Saturday will hold an official event from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., on Nov. 28 at the Texarkana Convention Center on Cowhorn Creek Road.
(Visit the "Small Business Saturday Challenge" Facebook page for more information.)