In 2010 Small Business Saturday was founded to encourage holiday shoppers to patronize brick and mortar businesses that are small and local. Since then it has grown to be a day where people get out to #shopsmall and support their favorite locally-owned businesses.

In Hutchinson, our Chamber of Commerce and Hutchinson Ambassadors groups don red elf outfits and bring joy and thanks to customers who are visiting locally-owned small businesses.

This year, they’ll be hosting a ping-pong hunt in Library Square Park, all the balls correlate to prize packs of gift cards and grand prizes from local establishments. The Hunt will take place at 10am on Saturday, November 26th. And then the elfs will go out into the community serendipitously handing out gift cards and prizes to unsuspecting shoppers.

At the Clay Coyote we will be offering 15% off our pottery (in store only).

We also hope that while you’re visiting us you stop by some of our neighbors and shop the block!

We love these small shops that are all within one block of the Clay Coyote (there is plenty of free street parking):

• Quilt Haven on Main: Known as one of the 10 ten quilt shops in the USA (according to Better Homes and Garden Magazine).
• Olita (gift shop): Owner Jill and her daughter design leather goods and offer many different gifts from local jewelry, drink mixes, candles, and a little kids section.
• Let It Grow (plant shop): New in 2022, it’s like you stepped into the tropics or the plant shop in Little Shop of Horrors (but without Audrey 2). The team will help even the worst gardner (ah hem) find a plant to bring green joy.
• BG Jewelry: A new locally owned jewlery store, ask Brian to find or create just the right peice.
• Purse-a-nalities (women’s boutique): I was looking for a top recently, she talked me into three. You’ll love their scarves too!
• Carly’s Shoes: I recently described this shoe shop as old fashioned like when you were a kid and got your feet measured on the silver slider tray … and I meant it in the very nicest way. I love the you can get great customer service, find the right fit, while buying quality shoes.
• Crow River Floral: When I need flowers I call Jeanie and her team. Their flowers are fresh and last longer than anywhere else. They also have a ton of holiday decor and inspiration.
• Hutchinson Center for the Arts: Check out their new exhbit, Inspired by Nature: Relief Prints by Glenna Olson, and their small retail gallery too. Sign up to take their Relief Printmaking Workshop in January!
• Auxiliary Thrift Shop: This is a thrifter’s dream. All volunteer run, the proceeds go back into the community to the Hutchinson Health Foundation to help with improvements to Hutchinson Health.
• Amazing Grace (women’s boutique): On-trend clothing and fun seasonal accessories.
• By Mae (clothing and housewares): One of the only plus sized clothing boutiques in Minnesota. Shop owner Emily tells me that it’s so hard for women to find plus sized clothing online because you really need to try it on. She’s got you covered.
• Main Street Antiques: Stalls and stalls and stalls of everything you’ve ever wanted. Make sure you go upstairs where the furniture is and stop into the coin shop in the back.

Need a little sustenance after all that shopping? Hutchinson is full many wonderful local places to enjoy a meal. These are all near us in Downtown:

• Dunn Brother’s (coffee and light fare)
• Sonora’s Mexican (lunch and dinner)
• River House Kitchen & Drinks (breakfast, lunch, and dinner)
• Flank Steakhouse (lunch and dinner)
• Main Street Sports Bar (lunch and dinner)
• Muddy Cow (lunch and dinner)
• DQ (ice cream and grill)

Venture out a little further to a few of our favorite local haunts:

• Bobbing Bobber Brewery
• Crow River Winery
• Jomas Hill Winery