Local Christmas shopping at the last minute

While the deadline for Christmas shopping is, in theory, a few minutes before any given family function, smart shoppers know that they have to be finished before that point. That was the idea before the Last Minute Christmas Shopping Blitz, held at the Ukrainian Orthodox Auditorium.

One of those local vendors was AnnaLee Parnetta, a Kamsack-based seamstress who was selling paying tents for children. The tents, for children under eight, were available in two sizes. Parnetta describes them as a twist on the traditional pillow fort that has long been a childhood staple.

“It’s a place where kids can play, and it closes out the outside noise in the living room or family room. Instead of making a fort with the traditional blankets and pillows, it becomes an automatic pop-up fort.”

Parnetta began making them because she saw similar forts online, but was shocked by the price people were charging. Realizing that she could make something cheaper with her own sewing skills, she decided to make one for herself, and then discovered a demand for the design.

All of the tents are made from fabric purchased at Yorkton businesses, something that Parnetta says is a big priority to go local with all of her supplies.

“Being from rural Saskatchewan and growing up here, if you don’t have your small businesses, you’re going to have to pay to drive somewhere. If we can afford to support our local businesses, it becomes a factor that they are a mainstay in our local community. With that, the community will thrive and business is successful... We have to support small businesses constantly, whether it’s me working in my basement or someone with an actual storefront in the community, you need to shop local.”

Parnetta believes that trade shows like the Last Minute Christmas Shopping Blitz are a great way to get small businesses, especially home-based businesses like hers, in front of people and to get people shopping for local products from local people.

A four pole tent is $100, and a five pole tent is $125. The smaller of the two covers and area of 42” by 42”, while the larger tent covers an area of 55” by 55”. She can be found by calling 306-542-8283.