Heights businesses invited to submit holiday gift ideas

Each year, FutureHeights publishes a Holiday Gift Guide in the November issue of the Heights Observer, to help readers discover the unique items Heights retailers offer and assist them in “shopping local first” to support the local economy.

The 2018 guide will contain listings in each of the following categories: Stocking Stuffers ($10 or less), Gifts Less Than $50, Gifts $50 to $150, Gifts More Than $150, and Gifts For the Person Who Has It All.

Cleveland Heights and University Heights retail businesses are invited and encouraged to e-mail photos and descriptions of items they would like to be considered for publication in the 2018 Heights Observer Holiday Gift Guide to Jessica Schantz (jschantz@futureheights.org) no later than Oct. 19. Put “Holiday Gift Guide” in the subject line.

Submit the following for each item: item category (one of the five categories listed above), item name, item price, name of business submitting the item, and a JPG photo of the item. Please limit descriptive text for each item to one sentence, or no more than 30 words. Photos of gift cards and gift baskets, for restaurants or service businesses, are welcome, too.

The gift guide will appear in the November print issue of the Heights Observer, as well as in weekly Heights Observer e-newsletters in the lead-up to the holidays, and online at www.heightsobserver.org.

The Heights has more locally owned, independent businesses than many other communities, and—as business owners know—the holiday season is the most important time of year for them. Holiday sales often determine if they are in the red or the black for the year, and, for many, if they can afford to continue to operate in the coming year.

The annual Holiday Gift Guide is just one of the ways in which FutureHeights and the Heights Observer seek to support and promote Cleveland Heights and University Heights businesses, and remind readers of the importance of shopping local.

Several studies show that if more of the dollars Americans spend on holiday shopping were spent at locally owned, independent businesses, they would generate far more economic benefit in local communities than money spent online, at chains or businesses outside of the community.

While trends show that consumers are spending more of their dollars online, National Retail Federation data showed some positive news for brick-and mortar-stores. Specifically, nearly half of consumers browse physical stores to find the perfect gift idea, and because of the need to find that perfect gift now, many buy on impulse.

Deanna Bremer Fisher

Deanna Bremer Fisher is executive director of FutureHeights and publisher of the Heights Observer.

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Volume 11, Issue 10, Posted 11:54 AM, 10.01.2018