LAS CRUCES – Shoppers, pace yourselves this week to leave plenty of time to visit Las Cruces-area shops amid the 12th annual Small Business Saturday.
The tax holiday officially begins after midnight on Saturday, Nov. 27 and lasts 24 hours. According to the state’s Taxation and Revenue Department, businesses that are New Mexico-based and claim 10 or fewer employees can deduct gross receipts tax on sales for certain items that cost no more than $500. This includes clothing, accessories, cosmetics, books, artwork, sporting goods and more.
According to information from the U.S. Small Business Administration, spending by consumers at small businesses across the country during the 2020 tax holiday reportedly reached an estimated $19.8 billion.
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Las Cruces and Mesilla businesses are planning to take advantage of this one-day tax break.
Experience Mesilla — a collaboration of shops, restaurants, bars and other businesses within the Town of Mesilla — is advertising pop-up shops and specials at participating businesses. A news release explained that over 20 vendors will be available from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at Livingston Bridal & Events, 1680 Calle de Alvarez. Vintage Market, 2310 Avenida de Mesilla, will also host over 12 boutique shops from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Other businesses within the town are planning sales, food and beverage specials, live music and giveaways.
“These markets provide a much needed boost in business traffic,” said Chris Schaefer and Roxanne Livingston in a news release, owners of Dry Point Distillers and Livingston Bridal & Events respectively. “They help dozens of community small businesses not to mention the extra visibility for our off-the-beaten-track locations. It’s a win-win-win scenario; we connect consumers with our products as well as a huge variety of amazing products for a number of businesses while promoting Mesilla tourism.”
The Downtown Las Cruces Partnership is recognizing the tax holiday by hosting a welcome station at the Farmers & Crafts Markets of Las Cruces Saturday. Swag bags will be distributed to families who show a receipt dated Nov. 27 from any downtown business or market vendor.
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Saturday will also feature the Ventanas Vivas holiday murals. Local artists have partnered with local businesses to paint window murals for the holiday season. The murals will be judged by DLCP board members, the Arts and Cultural District Coordinating Council and members of the public. Winners will be announced the last week of December.
This is the third year of the event, according to a news release, and will feature “an updated take on the mid-century downtown holiday window displays.” Artists include Domenic Altamirano, SABA, Noel Sandino, Araceli Solis, Julian R. Medran Hunting, Coy Lowther, Lorenzo Braulio Zepeda and Alyssa Trujillo.
“Honestly I’m very happy to be a part of this,” said Altamirano in a news release. This will be his third year participating. “I’m excited to beautify the windows downtown and make it more cheery.”
Shoppers can also support small businesses by checking out the 2021 New Mexico True Certified Gift Guide. Products from state-based businesses are listed online at www.newmexico.org.
Leah Romero is the trending reporter at the Las Cruces Sun-News and can be reached at 575-418-3442, [email protected] or @rromero_leah on Twitter.
