4 Hidden Shopping Gems for Post-Thanksgiving Deals

A quick programming note as well: We’re taking off the next couple of days to be with our families too, so the UpNorthNewsletter will be back in your inboxes on Monday. Happy Thanksgiving!

Looking for safe topics to discuss with your family this Thanksgiving? Keep politics off the table and everyone entertained with these unique conversation starters:

– If you could only eat one type of cheese for the rest of your life (and it was your only option for sandwiches, pizzas, cheese boards, etc.), which would you choose?

– Who’s the better QB in Packers history: Brett Favre or Aaron Rodgers?

– What’s the best sitcom or movie set in Wisconsin?

– If you could include one famous Wisconsinite—past or present—to your family’s Thanksgiving table, who would you invite?

– Date, marry, or disappear forever: Beer, Brats, Curds.

– What’s the most surprising food you’ve never tried?

– If you could only order one “Flavor of the Day” for the rest of your life at Culver’s, which would you choose?

– How long is too long to age cheddar?

– Where does “Up North” Wisconsin really start?

BIG APPLE-BOUND! – Watch for the Greendale High School Marching Band tomorrow morning in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade! Greendale is one of just six schools (out of 150 applicants) picked to play for a national audience of 50+ million at this year’s New York City parade. The 200-member group will perform a variety of hits including “Hooked on a Feeling” and music from The Lion King. Click here to see the other float representing Wisconsin.

BLACK FRIDAY BEER – In Wisconsin, it’s synonymous with the release of one-of-a-kinds. Every year, as millions of people nationwide head to malls, Badger State beer lovers head to their favorite brewery to pick up the boldest, biggest brews of the year. Here’s a roundup of some notable new releases.

BUSINESS BUMP – Wisconsin is the second-best state to start a small business, according to data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. The ranking was determined using the 3-year small business survival rate, which is 65% for Wisconsin. That’s 5% higher than the national average. 


SMALL SWAPS – Sick of giving all your money to Amazon? We took the top six things Wisconsin shoppers buy online, and found some great small businesses that sell them locally. Here’s where to go.

While Black Friday may have better deals, Small Business Saturday makes a bigger difference.

– $68 of every $100 spent at a local small business stays local (compared to $43 spent at national chains).

– 99.4% of all Wisconsin businesses are considered small.

– Nearly half of all Wisconsinites work at a small business (a company with less than 500 employees).

Convinced to shop small? Great! 

Travel Wisconsin, the state’s official tourism website, compiled a list of four can’t-miss small towns with celebrated shopping scenes. Here are its picks…

1. Kohler

Where: 60 miles south of Green Bay

Known For: Serene scenery, as well as the exquisite The American Club, Whistling Straits, and The Shops at Woodlake.

Where to Shop: ARTspace, which also has a companion gift shop in nearby Sheboygan, is filled with handcrafted items made by North American artists. Movers & Shakers Kids Toys is filled with plush toys and books, while With Child has maternity items as well as baby shower gifts and clothes. The Kohler Gardener is filled with— you guessed it— gardening goods. And stop by Scentualities for apparel, jewelry, and luxurious bath and body products.

Don’t Miss: The Wisconsin Trader, a celebrate of all things Midwestern. Find home décor, Wisconsin-made food products, and Sconnie-themed clothing!