This year’s Shop Alabama for the Holidays campaign kicks off  in the city of Florence. The Alabama Retail Association will begin its statewide shopping initiative and holiday hashtag campaign, #DoubleYourGift, during Florence Mayor Steve Holt’s State of the City program.

WHAT:  Shop Alabama for the Holidays Kickoff

WHO:  Alabama Retail Association, City of Florence and Mayor Steve Holt, Shoals Chamber of Commerce

WHERE: State of the City Program, Florence-Lauderdale Coliseum, 702 Veterans Dr., Florence, AL 35630

WHEN:  Thursday, Nov. 7, 2019, 5 p.m. exhibits open, 6 p.m. program

“We appreciate the Alabama Retail Association for conducting their Shop Alabama for the Holidays campaign, and we are especially excited that Florence kicks off the 2019 initiative. Our city looks forward to a strong Christmas shopping season, and we ask our community to continue shopping locally,” the mayor said.

Caitlin Holland, president of the Shoals Chamber of Commerce, added, “The Shoals Chamber is thrilled that the Alabama Retail Association has chosen The Shoals as a stop for this campaign. We are blessed to live in a community full of strong, locally owned, small businesses, and it’s an honor to support them just as they support us.”

The Alabama Retail Association predicts the holiday shopping season will be the strongest to date, with more than $12.4 billion expected to be spent in the months of November and December. That number represents a 3 percent increase over last year’s holiday spending record.

>> Read Alabama Retails’ complete holiday shopping forecast
(Updated to reflect latest state sales tax collection numbers)

“We are proud to partner with the City of Florence, Mayor Steve Holt and the Shoals Chamber for this exciting event. Our Shop Alabama message encourages residents to spend their shopping, dining and leisure dollars locally. We look forward to rallying around the local business community during the holiday season,” said Nancy King Dennis, public relations director for the Alabama Retail Association.

When you #ShopAlabama

you STRENGTHEN your local economy,

SUPPORT your community

and INVEST in the vibrancy of your city!

 

The Alabama Retail Association represents retailers, the largest private employer in the state of Alabama, before the Alabama Legislature and the U.S. Congress. Through sales of food, clothing, furniture, medicine and more, our 4,300 independent merchant and national company members touch almost every aspect of daily living. Since 1943, we’ve worked to promote what’s best for the retail industry in Alabama. Whether voicing the retail view when public policy is made, educating members about issues that impact them, negotiating rates for benefits and services or communicating the retail story, the Alabama Retail Association and its members are better together.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Nancy King Dennis | 334.868.2195 | 800.239.5423