UPDATE – if you are a Salem business owner looking for resources, please look HERE

At Salem Main Streets, we are increasingly concerned for the physical health but also the future economic health of our community. With details changing every hour, it is hard to know how best to advise and support the downtown district that we serve. The practice of social distancing appears to be a wise course of action from a public health standpoint but will undeniably have overwhelming and lasting impacts for our downtown. Here are a couple low-risk ways you can help in the meantime:

– Retail/service businesses – if they have an online store, use it to buy that special item you’ve been coveting! Gift cards for future use are a great way to treat those you love while supporting the businesses you care about now. Book yourself a summer spa day– schedule a massage, a mani/pedi, yoga class, etc. for a date in the future.

– Restaurants – if they offer takeout, use that option! Do they sell gift certificates? Purchase one to support the local business, and consider gifting it to a friend you know in the service or hospitality industry – as businesses are forced to tighten up payroll, the hospitality workforce is already being hit hard.

– Attractions, Tours, and Hotels – Plan a summer staycation!  Book a night at a downtown hotel you’ve never seen the inside of, that local tour you’ve been meaning to take, that attraction you always notice lines for. Cancellations are high for these businesses right now, and being able to plan for future income will be of vital importance.

– Events – Have you bought a ticket for an upcoming event that may be cancelled or postponed? Can you afford to decline any offered refunds? Consider it a donation for a venue or organization you care about. Just because the event is cancelled doesn’t mean there are no expenses, not to mention the loss of the anticipated income.

– Nonprofits – Springtime is gala/fundraiser season for a lot of nonprofits, and cancelling these events leaves a major hole in their operating budgets. Again, consider forfeiting your ticket as a donation if you are able, and keep your eyes peeled for any online giving opportunities they may shift to instead. (I hate to say it, but SMS is also going to need some support – find out how here)

– Artisans – now is a great time to make a special commission with a local artist you love! Many are planning ahead for summer street fairs and markets, which means a lot of upfront costs on registration fees and materials.

– Know before you go. Adjustments are being made by the hour. Check social media/web if you can before making plans. Destination Salem is doing their best to track updates and cancellations here – https://www.salem.org/covid19

Above all else, be kind to yourself and to others. Do not push yourself to attend something that does not feel safe to you. Try not to judge a business or organization for a cancellation or closing, or for staying open and pushing through. No one is making these decisions lightly, and information available is changing by the day. Know that we at Salem Main Streets will be here to share whatever news we can, and do everything we can to help our downtown bounce back into full action, whenever that might be.

Small Business Saturday (Nov. 30, 2019) is a time to steer away from the major corporations of the world and support your local mom-and-pop shop. Salem is iconic for Halloween and maritime history, but is also increasingly known for its impressive collection of small businesses all year round. There are dozens of sweet deals you can get from our dynamic brick and mortars, and Small Business Saturday is the day to do it.

In 2010, small businesses were still suffering from the recession. In return, American Express birthed Small Business Saturday in an effort draw awareness to the diversity and necessity of healthy small businesses in the US. By 2013, more than 1,400 individuals and organizations had signed up as Neighborhood Champions, who have led the way by rallying their respective communities by hosting events and activities on Small Business Saturday. The number of Neighborhood Champions have grown annually, and by 2017, there were more than 7,200 Neighborhood Champions across all 50 states.  Small Business Saturday spending has now reached a reported estimate of $103 billion since the day began in 2010.

Why does this matter so much for Salem? Downtown Salem is made up of over 250 active storefronts. The vast majority of these storefronts (at least 90%!) are locally-owned and operated. Imagine what our downtown would look like without them. At least a third of downtown storefront businesses are microenterprises (fewer than five full-time employees) – when we say small business, we really mean small! Amex estimates that for every dollar spent at a small business in the U.S., approximately 67 cents stays in the local community. So when you choose these small businesses over a larger corporation, two-thirds of your money stays here in our local economy.

Of the 30 new storefronts that have opened in downtown Salem in the last 2 years, 50% were filled by homegrown local businesses that started off as street fair or farmers market vendors, gaining community support before moving into a permanent space. Many downtown businessowners told us that they opened a business in Salem specifically because they lived here. These are not just faceless businesses – these are our neighbors, and their passion for serving their community sets them apart. Celebrate the beauty of an independent venture and keep Salem vibrant all year-round by participating in Small Business Saturday this Saturday, November 30, 2019!

Salem Main Streets is looking for local Salem enthusiasts to help greet visitors at the October Information Booth.  Volunteers will staff the booth at the start of the Essex Street Pedestrian Mall, handing out maps and sharing information about Salem’s wide variety of attractions, events, and businesses.  Last year volunteers assisted over 22,000 visitors during the weekends and holidays in October.

All volunteers are asked to be available for a minimum of two shifts for two hours each and will be required to complete a one hour orientation session.  The orientation will take place on Saturday, September 14 at 9:30 a.m. at the National Park Service Regional Visitor Center. Volunteers will be updated on new October events and there will be time for returning volunteers to share insights and information with those new to the program.  Sign up for the Orientation here – https://signup.com/go/EfVkPPU

Volunteers are needed for two hour shifts throughout the day each weekend in October, as well as some additional dates including October 3 (Parade night), October 14 (Columbus Day), and of course, October 31 (Halloween Night). We are also looking for multi-lingual volunteers to assist the many international visitors who come to Salem. If you have availability some of these days, enjoy helping visitors by showing them your enthusiasm for our cultured and historic city, and want to make it fun and easy for visitors to explore all of Salem’s sites and attractions, please join us! 

For more information or to become a volunteer please contact Kylie Sullivan, Salem Main Streets’ Executive Director, at (978)744-0004 x115 or kylie@salemmainstreets.org. This program is organized by Salem Main Streets in partnership with the City of Salem, with support from Destination Salem and the National Park Service.