By NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber of Commerce CEO Debra Teufel believes that consumers in Hutchinson now know that they can fill their stockings and under their trees without leaving the area.
"We've seen a great return to local," Teufel said. "I think that's come through in sales tax. Numbers during the pandemic started looking better for Hutchinson and Reno County. I think that was partly because people started figuring out, I'm not going to be able to go to wherever they were shopping before and they started thinking local again. We really haven't seen those numbers soften. Some of that is inflationary pressure. That just results in an increase in sales tax, but that trend started even before the inflation started creeping up."
Retailers are optimistic at this point, according to Teufel.
"When I go talk to retailers across the community and up and down Main Street, they are very bullish on Hutchinson and the sales," Teufel said. "From the jewelry stores downtown to the clothiers to confectioners and everything, things have been good for them. We hope that doesn't slow down. We want people to think local for the holidays."
A great opportunity to connect with some of those businesses will be the Ignite Business Expo Friday, October 28th from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Sunflower Buildings on the Kansas State Fairgrounds.
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