Christmas in July celebrates community and small business success on Saipan | Community Bulletins

(CNMI Small Business Development Center) — The CNMI SBDC Lead Network Site hosted its first “Christmas in July – Small Business Night” on Thursday, July 25, 2024, at the parking lot of Northern Marianas College As Terlaje Campus, Building V. The event, which ran from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., featured 24 CNMI SBDC clients showcasing a diverse range of products and services including food, beverages, desserts, toys, makeup, clothing and jewelry.

Christmas in July was designed not only to bring the community together, but also to help small businesses prepare for the upcoming holiday season. By providing an early opportunity to engage with the community, vendors were able to test and refine their offerings, gather customer feedback, and increase their visibility. This event was an important platform for small businesses to increase sales, improve customer relationships, and prepare for the peak holiday shopping season.

“This event highlights the resilience and creativity of our local entrepreneurs,” said Nadine C. Deleon Guerrero, Network Director of the CNMI SBDC. “By providing them with a platform to showcase their products and services, we not only help them prepare for the holidays, but we also strengthen the connection between our small businesses and the community.”

The evening was filled with rousing performances from the NMC Club of Artists. Local talents Chanel, Jason Lizama and Jordan Paradise delighted the audience with Christmas music performances, adding a festive atmosphere to the event.

A highlight of the evening was the “Most Festive Table” contest, in which nine vendors creatively decorated their booths with holiday themes. Isla Krafty Corner won the contest and received a prize from CNS Inc. – a lagoon cruise for four guests to a “Small Business Holiday Party.”

An interactive raffle added excitement to the evening. Community members were given raffle passes with 10 spots valued at $10 each. They were encouraged to visit merchants and make purchases of $10 or more to earn stamps. Each stamp represented a raffle ticket and offered a chance to win prizes generously donated by participating merchants.

The success of the event was only possible due to the hard work and dedication of several key stakeholders. We would like to extend our sincere thanks to the staff of the IT Department, the Buildings and Maintenance Department, and the Institutional Development Department of Northern Marianas College for their invaluable support. We also appreciate the partnership with the Office of the Mayor of Saipan and CNS Inc. whose contributions were instrumental in making this event a reality.

Special thanks to our participating vendors: Divine's Essentials, Cherrymoon Co., Aoi_Neko, El Bishu, BxlBitz, Crafty Baeker, Tupu Cane Juice, Bobole's Novelties, RoberToy, Chiku Chiku, Mind2Muscle670, Ben Ki Store, CNS Inc., Isla Krafty Corner, Lanlan Tea House, Cookie Cove, Bibi's Crafts, NMI Artistry & Designs, TropicTreats670, LP Beauty, #Bumplife Maternity, Irie Scents, Flora Mixed – Flowers & Gifts, Samantha Salamon Photography. Their creativity and hard work brought joy and celebration to our community.

Finally, we would like to extend our deepest gratitude to the community for their incredible participation and continued support of the CNMI SBDC. Your participation makes events like this possible and helps us fulfill our mission to promote entrepreneurship and support small businesses in the CNMI.

The CNMI SBDC remains committed to promoting and strengthening the entrepreneurial spirit in the Commonwealth. We look forward to continuing our work to strengthen local businesses and contribute to the economic development of our community.

For more information about upcoming events and how to participate, contact the CNMI SBDC at (670) 237-6888 or email [email protected]/.

You can also visit us at www.cnmisbdc.com and follow us on social media at @cnmisbdc on Instagram or the CNMI Small Business Development Center on Facebook.