Support local business this holiday season with GROW Nebraska gift boxes

Every holiday season, millions of dollars leave local economies as gifts are purchased at big box stores and national chains. 

In the rush to complete Christmas shopping lists, consumers often pick the big retailer that only leaves 43% of the sale in the local economy. When the same amount is spent at a local business, 68% of the money stays local. 

For the second year in a row, the GROW Nebraska Foundation is offering shoppers an easy way to make sure they’re supporting their state with customizable gift boxes. 

“When you choose to build a gift box with GROW, you’re making an intentional choice to support Nebraskans,” said GROW Nebraska CEO Janell Anderson Ehrke. “Every item you chose to put in there supports a small business who can truly use your support. It means the world to them.”

GROW’s program allows for individuals to build their own boxes and for corporations to order hundreds of boxes for employee or client gifts. 

In either case, gift buyers can build a box, starting at just $20, picking Nebraska-made items from a selection of more than 3,000 products available at the Buy Nebraska Store and BuyNebraska.com. 

All purchasers need to do is choose the items they want, tell GROW Nebraska where to ship them, and then sit back and relax. 

Boxes can also include a personalized note or logo sticker, so the recipient knows who the generous gifter is. 

Last year, corporate gift boxes sent from just one Nebraska organization proved to be a light at the end of the tunnel for 28 small businesses after the tribulations of 2020. 

For example, RCK Creations, located in Alda, sold around 1,200 tumblers. Nutt Family Jams & Jellies of Ravenna completely sold out of their inventory. 

“Though 2021 is proving to be a more positive year than the last, a fluctuating economy and continuously changing health regulations still leave clouds of doubt over the holiday season for many small business owners,” Anderson Ehrke said. “We’re hoping our gift boxes can again be a lifeline for Nebraska businesses.”To learn more about the program, or inquire about creating your own gift boxes, email info@grownebraska.org.