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Asheville Launches Annual Small Business Week Amid Recovery Efforts

Community members shopping during Asheville's Small Business Week

News Summary

Asheville is set to celebrate its annual Small Business Week from May 4 to May 10, focusing on supporting local entrepreneurs impacted by Hurricane Helene. The event features exclusive deals, promotions, and a new interactive map for residents and visitors. Participating businesses will contribute portions of their proceeds to local recovery efforts, highlighting the community’s resilience as it navigates through the aftermath of the hurricane.

Asheville is set to kick off its annual Small Business Week from Sunday, May 4 to Saturday, May 10. This event aims to celebrate and support local entrepreneurs who play a crucial role in the community’s economy. The initiative comes amidst ongoing recovery efforts from the devastating impacts of Hurricane Helene, which disrupted numerous small businesses in the area.

During Small Business Week, Asheville’s small businesses will offer exclusive deals and promotions designed to attract customers and encourage local spending. An interactive map is being launched to guide residents and visitors through the various can’t-miss offers available throughout the week. For example, Master BBQ will serve adobo wings featured as a special deal, while Asheville Wellness Tours is providing $5 discounts on their experiences.

The aftermath of Hurricane Helene has left many local entrepreneurs struggling to regain stability. Many Asheville businesses experienced significant losses in revenue or were forced to close temporarily as a result of the hurricane’s destruction. This challenging situation has compelled local businesses to rely heavily on holiday sales to continue operations and pay their employees as they navigate through recovery.

In light of this, a portion of the proceeds from many participating businesses during Small Business Week will be directed toward rebuilding efforts in response to Hurricane Helene’s impact. East Fork Pottery, for instance, will donate 5% of its holiday sales to help local relief efforts. Similarly, Botanical Bones, a brand specializing in pet superfoods, supports Brother Wolf Animal Rescue by contributing part of their sales to aid in rebuilding the shelter damaged during the floods.

Additionally, Soulku, a jewelry brand, is creating pieces that support stay-at-home mothers while directing proceeds from its “Asheville Strong” necklaces to local recovery initiatives. Other businesses like Sarilla, known for its non-alcoholic sparkling drinks, also pledge their support through contributions made from sales of their products.

Several local businesses have initiated collaborative efforts to bolster community support. Moonlight Makers is working with others to sell screen-printed shirts, proceeds from which will be dedicated to helping communities affected by the hurricane. Pirani Life is focusing on reducing single-use waste with reusable cups and donates 1% of all sales to non-profit organizations that support local restoration projects.

Everyday Oil, which faced severe consequences from the hurricane’s aftermath, is now aiming to engage holiday shoppers to ensure its business’s viability. Meanwhile, French Broad Chocolate, known for its artisanal chocolates, struggles with operational challenges due to ongoing water supply issues but continues to promote gift card sales.

Poppy Handcrafted Popcorn has launched a “Popcorn with a Purpose” initiative that seeks to raise $1 million through its sales to support local rebuilding efforts. In addition, C&Co. Handcrafted Skincare, which offers pH-balanced skincare products, contributes to local cleanup efforts, aligning business practice with community needs. Moreover, Spicewalla, a small-batch spice producer, is focused on helping other local businesses as they recover.

Provisions Mercantile, significantly affected by flooding, has introduced gift boxes featuring products from local makers as part of its recovery strategy. The Asheville Downtown Association is promoting Small Business Weekend alongside a Tree Lighting Block Party at Grove Arcade, encouraging community engagement during this time.

North Carolina residents purchasing from participating Asheville stores will have the opportunity to upload receipts for a chance to win $500, benefiting both themselves and the business they supported. The local economy’s recovery is heavily dependent on promoting boutique manufacturers and small businesses, emphasizing community support to foster resilience in the wake of Hurricane Helene.