Plaid on the Plains, celebrated annually in the Russell area the weekend after Thanksgiving, promotes shopping with locally owned businesses during the holiday season. Russell residents and visitors will enjoy a full weekend of fun and fellowship, shopping and sharing.
Plaid on the Plains kicks off with Plaid Friday, the small business alternative to Black Friday, on November 23. The American Express initiative, Small Business Saturday follows the next day. The three-day event wraps up with Sunday Funday.
Plaid Friday was first celebrated in 2009 in Oakland, California, a city known for strong "shop local" campaigns. The Plaid Friday movement has grown across the nation, and even more so in the Russell area. Starting in 2010, Encore Antiques and Collectables hosted Plaid Friday events and in 2014 Encore Antiques encouraged local businesses to become involved. The Russell County Convention and Visitors Bureau stepped in to support the local Plaid Friday efforts by providing a limited number of plaid shopping bags filled with goodies and local information.
Small Business Saturday was first observed in the United States in 2010, and encourages holiday shoppers to patronize brick and mortar businesses that are small and local. The first event was sponsored and promoted by American Express via a nationwide radio and television advertising campaign. Encore first celebrated Small Business Saturday in 2011 and was named a Small Business Saturday Neighborhood Champion in 2017.
Rounding out the holiday weekend, Sunday Funday includes a variety of events around town, allowing families to enjoy time together and pick up a few more bargains.
Encore Antiques and Collectables serves as the headquarters for Plaid on the Plains. Shoppers are encouraged to start their Plaid on the Plains adventures at Encore where they can pick up their plaid shopping bag and the 2018 Shop Sheet. The Shop Sheet provides an overview of each participating business as well as a schedule of events for Sunday Funday. The Russell County Convention and Visitors Bureau and KRSL Russell Radio have assisted with outreach and Office Products, Inc. of Russell (OPI) has provided print and copy services.
"At Encore, we encourage folks to wear plaid when they're out and about as a visible reminder to think local first," said Sheryl Krug, co-owner of Encore Antiques and Collectables and local Plaid on the Plains coordinator. "On Plaid Friday at Encore, we offer discounts to all shoppers, but reward those shoppers wearing plaid with a gift." Other Russell retailers will be offering a variety of discounts and promotions.
For additional information, contact Encore Antiques and Collectables at 785-445-8480 or stop by 590 South Fossil in Russell.