Merry Merchants say 'shop local'

Alyson Sneddon coined the phrase “Merry Merchant Day Encampment/Riverside,” when discussing this upcoming Saturday when local businesses will join together to promote shopping locally this holiday season.

Christy Smith, director of the Grand Encampment Museum (GEM) came up with the idea to band local merchants in the Upper Platte Valley together for their own version of the national Shop Small Saturday. “I was out of town for the national shop small day, so I thought ‘Let’s do our own,’ it would be a cool community effort,” Smith said, adding, “I guess its kind of my way to get to know these merchants and follow up on the whole theme that this museum started as a community effort and I want to maintain it as a community effort.”

GEM, The Red Wagon and Good Things in Encampment along with The Trading Post, Riverside Garage and the Beartrap Café in Riverside will all have sales and special events to celebrate the day and attract customers from far and wide.

The Red Wagon is celebrating its second anniversary on Dec. 12 and The Trading Post is continuing its 30th anniversary celebration through the Merry Merchant day. Sneddon said, “coffee is on the house,” during Merry Merchant Day in celebration of the store’s anniversary.

Mark Rauterkus, owner of the Trading Post, said, “I’m glad to see the Encampment and Riverside merchants get together and do some kind of a promotion as a whole.” Sporting goods and ammunition will be 30 percent off through Merry Merchant day at the Trading Post. Rauterkus is also hoping for more snow by then as recreationalists provide much of his winter business.

Other promotions include 20 percent off at Good Things, $7 burgers at the BearTrap and a $100 cash prize raffle at the Riverside Garage. GEM will have hot cider and a sale at their gift shop.

Visions for this Saturday were similar across the board. Smith said, “The idea is that they can come and go sledding up in the Sierra Madres, or skiing and snowmobiling, and on your way there or heading home stop in and shop a little bit.”

Sneddon said, “You know, if they are going up and getting their trees then they can stop by on their way out or back then do some shopping. We’ve got some really cool stuff over here,” adding, “Come to Encampment and Riverside. “We are open seven days a week!”