Last year鈥檚 holiday market in downtown Stamford was a big success. The Women鈥檚 Business Development Council, which sponsors the market, planned to invite more of the women-owned businesses it supports year-round for 2020, but rising COVID-19 numbers make that impossible.
Small businesses rely on the kind of shopping experience considered most risky this year: in-person. Overall retail sales are expected to decline this holiday season, but one area promises to grow: online shopping. Online sales are expected to make up 14.5% of total retail sales in 2020, up from 11% last year, according to industry analyst eMarketer.
So the WBDC came up with a that includes a list of 海角换妻-based businesses with online stores. Shoppers can get the pop-up market feel without having to shop in person.
Fran Pastore, CEO of WDBC, is on a mission to help women-owned businesses survive and grow.
She recognizes that many shoppers have gotten used to ordering online during the pandemic lockdown but usually from larger chain stores. She鈥檇 like to see people step outside their comfort zone.
鈥淎nd I鈥檓 not talking about your comfort zone with COVID, but if you鈥檙e used to going to an online major retailer,鈥� Pastore suggests, 鈥渏ust see what a local business owner might be offering.鈥�
She stressed that local businesses have a big impact on 海角换妻鈥檚 economy. 鈥淔or every dollar spent in a small business, 67% actually stays in the community,鈥� Pastore says.
The virtual marketplace directory includes shops that sell homemade pottery, yarn, jewelry and pastries. It can be found .
Ali Oshinskie is a corps member with , a national service program that places journalists into local newsrooms. Ali covers the Naugatuck River Valley for 海角换妻 Radio. Email her at aoshinskie@ctpublic.org and follow her on Twitter at .
