The holiday season is one of the most important times of year for many locally owned businesses. As you make your shopping lists and think about gifts for family, friends, clients, and colleagues, we encourage you to make shopping local part of your holiday tradition.

Small businesses are more than the backbone of our economy. They are the fabric of our communities. Our local retailers, restaurants, and coffee shops create places where we gather, connect, and build memories. They support local sports teams, contribute to community events, and give back in countless ways. When we support these businesses, we are investing in the communities we call home.

Small Business Saturday may bring extra attention to shopping local, but supporting small businesses matters all year long. This holiday season, the CHQ Chamber is offering several ways to discover and celebrate local businesses.

Shop Small and Win Big: Our online Shop Small pass features 145 participating businesses throughout Chautauqua County. Visit participating locations throughout November and December, check in, and collect points. Reach 150 points and redeem them for one of ten $50 ShopLocalCHQ Gift Cards. Extra points are available on Small Business Saturday. Follow us on social media, visit our website, and watch for upcoming newsletter updates as the pass goes live and more details become available.

Celebrate with Holiday Windows: Businesses throughout Chautauqua County are invited to participate in our Holiday Window Decorating Contest, running November 20 through December 17. There is no cost to participate, and Chamber membership is required. Photos of decorated windows will be featured in a Facebook gallery, where the public can vote by liking their favorites. The top three vote-getters will receive advertising space on the CHQ Chamber website or in our weekly newsletter. Local businesses can register their window on our website at: CHQchamber.org. Voting will begin on our Facebook page starting November 20th.

Live CHQ and Give CHQ: Looking for a gift that celebrates our region? Live CHQ Gift Baskets feature $50 worth of locally made products, including coffee, honey, maple syrup, seasonings, sweets, grape products, and more. Presented in a branded beach bucket, baskets are available with or without alcoholic beverages. They make great gifts for clients, colleagues, employees, and anyone who loves Chautauqua County. Each basket costs $54, including tax, and can be ordered through the eCommerce page at www.chqchamber.org or by calling (716) 484-1101.

Every dollar spent at a local business helps support a business owner, their employees, and the community around them. Whether you are shopping for gifts, exploring local businesses, or enjoying the holiday decorations in our downtowns, there are plenty of ways to make this season a little more local.

Thank you for supporting the businesses that make Chautauqua County a wonderful place to live, work, and do business!

Join us for our next Business After Hours at Bemus Golf Club & Tap House in Bemus Point. The event is scheduled for Tuesday, November 10th, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Bemus Golf Club & Tap House, located at 72 Main Street in Bemus Point. Guests will enjoy complimentary appetizers and a cash bar while connecting with fellow Chamber members and members of the local business community. As a benefit of Chamber membership, members may bring up to two guests free of charge. Additional members and non-members are welcome to attend for $10 per person.

This Business After Hours is sponsored by The Bemus Point Golf Club & Tap House, Southern Chautauqua Federal Credit Union, State University of New York at Fredonia, DFT Communications, National Grid, Phillips Lytle LLP and Glenora Radio Network.

Registration is open through the CHQ Chamber’s online calendar.

The CHQ Chamber will host a marketing workshop on Monday, November 16, from 9–10:30 a.m. at Southern Chautauqua Federal Credit Union, 110 Mall Boulevard, Lakewood. The session will offer practical strategies to strengthen brands, engage audiences, and support business growth.

Featured speakers include Erica Rose, founder of XO Erica Rose Social Media Marketing, who will share insights on effective social media strategy and content creation, and Jon Davis, founder of Collective Leverage, who will discuss business operations, leadership, and strategies for identifying growth opportunities.

Open to businesses of all sizes and experience levels, the workshop will feature real-world examples, actionable takeaways, and opportunities to ask questions and connect with fellow business owners.

This Business Builder Workshop is sponsored by the County of Chautauqua Industrial Development Agency, Southern Chautauqua Federal Credit Union, Glenora Radio Network and SUNY Fredonia. For details and registration, visit the CHQ Chamber’s online event calendar.

The CHQ Chamber’s Annual Meeting is getting a fresh start this year with a breakfast gathering on December 11 at the Chautauqua Harbor Hotel. Connect with fellow business and community leaders over breakfast, hear the latest Chamber updates, participate in the election of board members, and celebrate collaboration in our region with the presentation of the Pam Lydic Coalition Builder Award.

Start your morning with meaningful connections and a look at what’s ahead for the CHQ Chamber. Register today through the Chamber’s online calendar!

We extend our sincere thanks to our event sponsors: Chautauqua Harbor Hotel, The Chautauqua Region Community Foundation, County of Chautauqua Industrial Development Agency, Glenora Radio Network and SUNY Fredonia.