If you carry a calendar – paper or digital, it is just a busy time of the year for all. It is no different at the Chamber as we try to finish the year with new member ribbon cuttings and Christmas party plans as we close out 2025. When we listed the events that remain until the middle of December, the list was a half-page!
While we hope that everyone takes some time during the holiday season to spend with family and recharge their “life” batteries, remember that shopping local at small businesses keeps them working for another year. Similar to last year, a conversation with a small business indicated that most of their annual sales happen within the last two months of the year, which makes them sustainable for the coming year. With this, it is important to make sure that we are shopping local in our community or a community around us so these small businesses can have a great holiday season too – and likely be around for another year.
To remind the community annually that small businesses are the heart and soul of a community, Saturday, Nov. 29 is Small Business Saturday. This is our opportunity to shop locally, and according to American Express, this “One Day Makes a Difference” is the phrase used for 2025.
The current U.S. statistics for small businesses indicate that small business employs more than 46 percent of the American workforce, which is over 61 million of our neighbors, family and friends. Additionally, small businesses are still leading the charge, creating greater than 55 percent of the new jobs over the past 10 years. So get out and support your local small businesses during the holiday shopping season.
Chamber is busy too!
As of Oct. 1, the Seguin Chamber has hosted 46 events, 44 ribbon cuttings, and welcomed 46 new members. It has always been interesting when you look at the demographics of chamber membership such as membership longevity. The bulk of many Chamber Members, at least in Seguin, are typically in those ranges of less than 5 years as a member. The but here is where Seguin can also say that we are proud of those 41 members who have been Chamber Members for 40+ years!! Or those 114 Chamber Members who have been members for 20-40 years! We truly appreciate these tenured members and what they add to our community. As Seguin and Guadalupe County continue to grow, the Chamber is passing on all of the great things that are happening within our corner of the world.
Support your local food pantry Regardless of where you live, there is a food pantry that helps assist those who need assistance. Locally, there is no different from those challenges that are occurring in other communities across the U.S. where food insecurity is an issue, and a real issue. While many of the food pantries across the US are more than willing to take food donations, many of these operations also have a contract with local food stores to purchase much more for each dollar spent that you and I can imagine.
For example, the SA Foodbank states that $1 provides seven meals. Feeding America indicates that they too can make a dollar donation stretch much farther than estimated. Now that we have identified a need that exists, get involved in your community with a food pantry either by dropping food (non-perishable is preferred) donations off at the local pantry; they can also use the monetary donation as well. Many of these organizations are non-profits and your donations are tax deductible – just get out there and do something.
Last, I say this every year – but sometimes a gentle reminder is needed – remember these principles and make this season truly a season of thanks and giving: On behalf of the Chamber Staff, Chamber Ambassadors, and Chamber Board of Directors, we wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving!
