November 19, 2021
Highlands University is hosting Shop Small Mall—a convenient one-stop shop where people can do their holiday shopping and support Las Vegas’ businesses. The Shop Small Mall event will take place in the Highlands University Student Center on Dec. 1, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Director of Alumni Affairs Juli Salman came up with the idea as a way to help support local businesses in conjunction with Small Business Saturday—a national day intended to garner support for shopping locally. Salman also conceived of the idea as a way to help local businesses in Las Vegas who have been struggling due to the pandemic and due to Bridge Street construction.
According to community liaison Linda Anderle, she, Salman, and alumni affairs assistant Julie Tumblety visited nearly 70 businesses in person to spread the word, and contacted remaining merchants by mail.
“We all wore Santa hats and went out one day to see merchants face-to-face,” Anderle said. “Most of them were pleased that we thought to do it, so we set a date.”
Every merchant who wants to participate will be able to request a table, although Anderle said that merchants who want to get creative with their sales can also simply request a six-foot space to fill as they’d like. Spaces will be offered to all brick-and-mortar businesses for free.
Anderle said there will be free gift wrapping available for shoppers, punch and cookies, and the Linda Vista Community Choir will be performing from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. In addition, door prizes will be given away and include a bicycle, a toolbox, and a small kitchen appliance.
“It’s an opportunity to sell small items, take pre-orders, sell gift certificates, or Las Vegas First Independent Business Alliance Certificates, and to pass out business cards or flyers with incentives for people to visit their stories,” said Anderle. “Be creative. You can’t pack up the inventory of your store, but you can think about what to put in a six-foot space and bring in smaller, more affordable items.”
Anderle said it will also be an opportunity for Bridge Street businesses to inform shoppers about where they can park and how they can best access their businesses, whether it means parking on Valencia, behind the parachute factory, or other locations.
“Plus, our bookstore, our convenience store, and our Purple Brew are all going to be open that night,” said Anderle.
Parking for the Shop Small Mall event will be available for shoppers on 8th Street, in the parking lot on 8th and Columbia, and in the big parking lot behind the Student Union Building on 9th and Columbia.
“We are happy to support Las Vegas businesses during the holiday season,” said Highlands University President Sam Minner. “It’s been a tough time for all of us and Highlands is glad to do what we can to strengthen the local economy and support our merchants and the community.”
Merchants who are interested in participating in this free event must reserve their space by Nov. 26 by emailing Linda Anderle at landerle@nmhu.edu or calling at 505-454-3062.