COVID-19 changes the look of annual local shopping day

The ShopHere app allows residents to shop at local stores online and pick up their items curbside. It was intended to reduce the need for residents to go into local businesses during the pandemic. Additionally, it allows shoppers to access a variety of stores from one app. 

“Obviously with covid we had to make some adjustments,” said Kathryn Kroll, marketing manager at Downtown Green Bay Inc. “We wanted to reduce contact and take things virtual.”

However, the ShopHere app doesn’t list all of the businesses that are participating in Small Business Saturday. Some stores, like The Attic, are using the Downtown Green Bay website to list their deals and encourage shoppers to come in. 

Scenes of rules The Attic put in place due to COVID-19 pandemic on Thursday, March 19, 2020, in Green Bay, Wis. On Friday, March 20, they will only be open for half of the day. Ebony Cox/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin (Photo: Ebony Cox)

Ashley Martin, a manager at The Attic, explained that this year has been especially hard on businesses that don’t have online shopping capabilities. 

“We understand that things are so different this year and it is a little more difficult especially for small businesses like us. We don’t have online opportunities,” Martin said. 

She added that the book and coffee shop still hasn’t returned to full operation even nine months into the pandemic. 

“We are doing OK, we are kind of steady,” she said. “We are one of the only places with indoor seating … if we had to shut down our in-house seating we would really be struggling.” 

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In addition to the app, a Shop Small Bingo Card has been created to replace the passport that was used in previous years, again to lessen contact during the pandemic. 

The bingo card includes a variety of challenges, several of which don’t require a purchase. 

Shoppers can submit a picture showing they completed a bingo square to be entered to win a prize from a local business. Those who document completion of five squares are entered to win a “staycation package” at Hotel Northland. The bingo card challenge begins Nov. 28 and goes until Dec. 19. 

Kroll stressed the importance of shopping small this year, explaining that local businesses and restaurants have faced lower revenue and sales than they have in previous years. 

“As we all know COVID has had a huge impact on these businesses and so many are working so hard,” said Kroll. “We want to get these businesses to a point where they can succeed going into 2021.”

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Downtown storefronts along N. Broadway pictured on Oct. 8, 2020, in Green Bay, Wis. (Photo: Sarah Kloepping/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin)

Ryan Chernick, president of Camera Corner Connecting Point, said shopping small has “never been more important.” 

He said Camera Corner has had fairly steady businesses throughout the pandemic, but not all businesses have been as lucky. Chernick said one of his greatest fears is that COVID-19 has changed the landscape of retail shopping, resulting in a market dominated by online shopping. 

“If we’re gonna make it out of this, we need to all pull together. Fortunately I do most of my shopping locally,” said Chernick. “I believe it’s full circle, if you take care of your friend’s business, they’ll take care of yours.”

Chernick added that while shopping locally is more challenging than ordering online at places like Amazon, there are still ways to do it safely. 

“Shop as local as you can because we want to continue to let our community grow, but do it safely,” he said.