15 Charles City retailers participating in nationwide ‘Pink Friday’ small business shopping experience

To The Press

Fifteen Charles City retail stores will be participating in the third-annual nationwide Pink Friday small business shopping experience, on Friday, Nov. 17.

Created by a small business retail association, The Boutique Hub, Pink Friday is a small business spin on the traditional Black Friday shopping experience, reminding people to #ShopSmallFirst.

The Friday after Thanksgiving – Black Friday – is often one of the largest shopping days of the year, but the sales and promotions from large chain stores often overshadow the experiences that small businesses are focused on providing in their own communities, said Tiffany Rottinghaus, Charles City chair of this year’s Pink Friday event.

The goal on Nov. 17 – the Friday before Thanksgiving – is to celebrate the businesses that are the backbone of local communities.

“Pink Friday was created to shine a spotlight on small businesses and encourage everyone to shop consciously during the holiday season,” says Ashley Alderson, founder and CEO of The Boutique Hub.

“There has never been a more important time than now to ‘Shop Small First.’ Small businesses make a big impact in America’s communities, and it’s important that we support them as much as possible,” Alderson said.

The Charles City Pink Friday website, www.cardiganco.com/pinkfriday, lists the participating locations for this year’s Pink Friday.

Rottinghaus said, “Not only will these retailers be featuring gifting options for the holidays, but each small business will be featuring different food and drink samples, special promotions and giveaways, complimentary gift wrap, live music, local author visit and more.

“This year, the Pink Friday retailers are focused on giving their customers the ultimate in-store experience,” Rottinghaus continued. “Many people will be surprised about what is offered right in their own community.”

Participating Locations for this year’s Charles City Pink Friday event are:

• Aroma’s Coffee
• Birdies and Bo’s
• Cardigan
• Charles City Arts Center Galleria Gift Shop
• Darbe & Co.
• Dean Jewelers
• Main Street Drug
• McCoy Smoothies
• Otto’s Oasis
• Prologue Books and Wine
• The Rustic Corner
• Saga Boutique
• Saxony
• Schiller’s Fine Art & Framing
• TJ’s Service

“Stops like the Art Center Gift Shop and Otto’s Oasis offer interesting and thoughtful gift options that are sometimes overlooked in the hustle and bustle of holiday shopping,” Rottinghaus said.

“Other retail boutiques, like Cardigan, Saxony, Prologue, Rustic Corner, Birdie and Bo’s and Darbe & Co., have developed gift and apparel offerings for our shoppers this holiday season,” she said. “This event really allows us to highlight our town’s growing retail district and helps our community get to know the people who own and manage them.”

People can follow the #ShopSmallFirst hashtag on social media. Any small business can participate in Pink Friday and can find out more by visiting www.theboutiquehub.com/pinkfriday.