Business – Page 9 – Salem Main Streets

Take a Look at the Holiday Window Contest Winners

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Dec 192016

Dressed for the season with trees, wreaths, and ribbons, Salem is ready for the Holiday Season. In fact, over 20 downtown businesses have decorated their windows especially for the holidays as part of our traditional Holiday Window Contest. Judges nominated by Salem Main Streets recently did a little window shopping of their own to vote on the best windows.

“We had some truly fantastic windows this year, as always,” said Kylie Sullivan, Salem Main Streets Executive Director. “We gave the judges extra freedom to create new award categories based on what they saw this particular year.”

Some award categories highlight good retail design – use of product or use of light – while others highlighted types of participation or partnerships.

For example, the Contest Legacy award was given to businesses who have demonstrated high quality windows across consecutive years, while the Contest Newcomer recognized businesses with high quality displays who have not regularly participated in the contest.

And, the new Salem Spirit award recognized those who exemplified the true spirit of community in the design of their windows.

Without further ado, here are the winners:

Best Overall: The Happy Sunflower

Best Use of Product: Curtsy
Honorable Mention – Partridge in the Bear Tree

Best Use of Lighting: Emporium 32
Honorable Mention – Hair Express

Contest Legacy (demonstrating high quality year after year): ReFind Men’s
Honorable Mention – Pamplemousse

Contest Newcomer: Aroma Sanctum
Honorable Mention – Witch Pix

Salem Spirit: The Coven’s Cottage, nAGLY

If you haven’t looked at the windows yet, we recommend going this week, especially during Festive Fridays, when numerous businesses around the downtown have committed to staying open until 8 pm to aid in your holiday shopping. More information about Festive Fridays and participating businesses can be found at this location.

In addition, this year, you get a chance to win! Salem Main Streets is holding two social media competitions on Facebook and Instagram right now. Post a picture of your favorite #salemholidaywindows, or take a #selfiewithashopkeeper on Festive Friday nights, and you could win a prize from a local business.

For more information about the Holiday Window Contest, contact Kylie Sullivan, Salem Main Streets Executive Director, at (978)744-0004 or kylie@salemmainstreets.org, and follow Salem Main Streets on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Two Market, Two Market, Salem This Weekend

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Dec 152016

Not one, but two winter holiday markets take place this weekend in Salem and they are easily within walking distance of each other so you can see it all and bring home the best in crafts and foods.

Salem Winter Market

Salem Main Streets is pleased to announce the return of the Salem Winter Market!! A seasonal extension of the Salem Farmers’ Market, this year’s final Salem Winter Market will take place Saturday, December 17th, from 1-5 pm inside the Museum Place Mall (1 Church Street).

“The Winter Market is a fantastic opportunity to support local farms and artisans through the holiday season, and is a chance to find some truly unique holiday gifts,” states Kylie Sullivan, executive director of Salem Main Streets and organizer of the market.

“We’re also very excited to showcase our vendors in the Museum Place Mall this year, where we can complement and highlight the variety of great year-round tenants in the mall.”

A diversity of local vendors will be present at the Salem Winter Market this season. Patrons can expect to find an assortment of foods and artisan crafts including locally-caught lobster, dried fruit and nuts, chowder, baked goods (including vegan and dairy-free options), wreaths, handmade soaps, spices, honey, pickles, gourmet ravioli, almond butter, eggs, jewelry, and various produce.

In addition, both Santa and The Grinch will be stopping by throughout this Saturday’s event to spread cheer and grumpiness (respectively).

The Salem Farmers’ Market and Winter Market are organized by Salem Main Streets, thanks to the support of the City of Salem and Mayor Kimberley Driscoll, the Salem Chamber of Commerce, Destination Salem, and many other local business sponsors and community volunteers. For further information regarding current vendors and Winter Market updates, refer to the Market’s website, Facebook, and Twitter pages, or contact Kylie Sullivan directly.

Salem Holiday Market

But that’s not all folks. You say you want more? Look no farther than across the road to Old Town Hall. Where you will discover this weekend The Salem Holiday Market! This has become a much-anticipated annual indie craft show, featuring over 90 of the best local and regional designers and artists from all over New England.

The Salem Holiday Market will be presented by New England Open Markets, from noon-6pm on Saturday and Sunday, December 17th and 18th.

For a look at the vendors’ list and pictures of their wares, check out their website.

Kylie adds, “We were so thrilled with the success of our November market where we saw over 1,600 visitors! Between the diversity of market vendors and the mall tenants, this December’s market will most definitely have something for everyone on your list.”

Then mix in the Salem Holiday Market and no matter the weather this weekend, you have a real good chance at a very rewarding walk or drive to Salem. You definitely will come away with your hands full of good bargains, good food, and good gifts!

Festive Fridays at Salem Stores; Open Later Hours for Holidays

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Dec 012016

For the sake of argument, let’s say that neither Black Friday, nor Small Business Saturday nor
Cyber Monday were sufficient enough to meet your shopping needs for the holidays, birthdays and anniversaries that fall in December. What else can you do?. How about a visit or two to Salem during our Festive Fridays celebration, which begins Dec. 2nd.

Explains Kylie Sullivan, Salem Main Streets executive director, “Salem Main Streets knows how it is. You WANT to shop local, but you get home from work too late in the evenings and you’re simply too busy on the weekends. That’s why Salem Main Streets is encouraging downtown retailers to stay open late every Friday this December leading up to Christmas and Hanukkah to help you with your holiday shopping!”

Which stores will be open during Festive Fridays? Glad you asked that.

Each week on Facebook, we’ll post a list of businesses who have committed to staying open until at least 8 pm, as well as announcing any great deals or special treats that you can look forward to.

As an extra incentive for you to shop & participate, Kylie adds, “If you post a #selfiewithashopkeeper any Friday evening in December on Facebook or Instagram, you could win a prize from a local business!”

So, after a long Friday to end a long work week, do you want to then drive to the mall, find a parking spot, walk across the parking lot to enter a packed mall only to be jostled by other tired, unhappy shoppers unable to find that unique gift for aunt Ellen, cousin Eddie or the boss?

Or do you want to stroll along our walkable streets to sample from an eclectic bunch of stores that are staying open later because they genuinely want your business and that of anyone you recommend their products or services to?

For additional information relating to any of these events, please contact Kylie Sullivan, Salem Main Streets Executive Director, at (978)744-0004 or kylie@salemmainstreets.org, or visit http://salemmainstreets.org/festivals/holiday-happenings/salem-festive-fridays/ and follow Salem Main Streets on Facebook and Twitter.

Holiday Artists’ Market Open Today in Nearby Salem

Salem Event, Salem Festivals, Salem Shopping, SMS News No Responses »

Nov 272016

Beautiful weather for appreciation of art in its many forms today in Salem Ma.: partly sunny with high around 45 degrees and no rain in the forecast. The Salem Arts Association is hosting a festive Holiday Artists’ Market with live music and a seasonal theme, from 10am to 5pm at Old Town Hall.

Come visit a lively market with all kinds of opportunities for our community & neighbors along the North Shore to browse and shop for treasures for self, friends and, of course, family.

The Holiday Artists’ Market will feature a variety of local artisans and crafters offering original artwork, unique gifts, and hand-made housewares to delight yourself or gift to others.

Festivities throughout the day will include live music, activities for children, and a very special visit from Queen Elsa of Arendelle (made popular in Disney’s Frozen movie)!

The Holiday Artists’ Market takes place at Old Town Hall, 32 Derby Square, Salem Ma. It’s a convenient holiday shopping daytrip destination for you and your family.

And Now For Something Completely Different: Small Biz Saturday.

Salem Event, Salem Festivals, Salem Shopping No Responses »

Nov 262016

As different as night and day, so too are the approaches to the stressful intensity of Black Friday and the laid-back pick & choose aspect of Small Business Saturday (which takes place, Nov 26, this year.)

A large number of Salem businesses await you with specials and good deals, plus giveaways and refreshments as a way of saying thank you for patronage all year long to regular customers— and a way of greeting new customers with open arms in hopes of facilitating customer engagement.

Did you drag yourself away from Thanksgiving Dinner or from a pleasant full- stomach midnight sleep to stand in line in hopes of being among the lucky few to nab a door-buster of a deal? Feeling tired about now? Get some rest and walk– not elbow– your way into many, many stores in Salem on Saturday as they participate in Small Business Saturday.

What was created in 2010 by American Express to give a kick in the pants to a recession-suffering economy has grown into a “big deal” day with shoppers last year spending $16.2 billion at small retailers, up from $5.5 billion just three years earlier.

Reportedly, 95 million shoppers and 1.3 million retailers participated in 2015!

By supporting small business retailers on Small Business Saturday you will be participating in a local event that is at the same time being enacted in every community across America.

As they say on a TV game show, “come on down” and as an extra incentive, there is free parking at all Salem city garages, parking lots and meters today.

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