Cullman Mayor Woody Jacobs and other representatives from the city and the Warehouse District untie a Christmas ribbon to mark the beginning of the holiday shopping season and encourage residents to shop local.

The holiday shopping season officially kicked off in Cullman’s Warehouse District Friday with the district’s Christmas Open House and launching of a statewide shopping campaign.

Artificial snow was falling and a Christmas ribbon was untied by representatives from the city and Warehouse District to mark the beginning of the “Shop Alabama for the Holidays” campaign.  

Melissa Warnke, a Cullman native and Communications/Engagement Manager for the Alabama Retail Association said her organization started the campaign last year as an effort to keep holiday shopping in local communities. 

“It makes me especially proud that we are kicking off our statewide ‘Shop Alabama for the Holidays’ campaign here in my hometown,” she said. 

The ‘Shop Alabama’ campaign encourages local residents to keep their money in their communities instead of shopping elsewhere or online. 

“They really depend on the support of people in the community to support them to be able to stay in business,” she said. “So ‘Shop Alabama’ is really a call to action. It’s a challenge for everyone to spend their holiday shopping and dining dollars locally.”

Shopping locally benefits the businesses, but also helps the community by keeping sales tax dollars in the area, Warnke said. 

“You’re investing in the vibrancy of your own city,” she said. “What a great way to spend your money and really make an impact twice.”

Margaret Hamm, owner of Monograms Plus in the Warehouse District, said her store has seen the district grow with the support of the community. 

Online shopping is not going away, but it will never be as fun as going into a store with family and friends for Christmas shopping, she said. 

Hamm said local retailers are also members of the community and the money that is spent in their stores goes back to the community.

“We are thankful and appreciative of the loyalty of our community and from all across Alabama,” she said. 

Cullman Mayor Woody Jacobs also spoke about the benefits of shopping in local stores during the holidays. 

He said even though the campaign was kicking off in the Warehouse District, all of the local merchants in Cullman benefit the city. 

The sales tax dollars from local businesses support the city’s roads, police, the fire department and schools, he said. 

“Everything that you spend here locally, stays locally,” he said.