The holiday season always promises to be a wonderous time filled with the signs and sounds of Christmas!
 
This year you can add some special Holiday cheer and boost the local economy by shopping, dining, exploring, and enjoying all things local with Temple Chamber of Commerce members!
 
Did you know that every dollar you spend cycles over in our community?
 
As if by magic, the dollars spent locally cycle through the Temple area economy as much as seven times. In other words, every $1 spent locally equals $7 in local economic impact. It is really not magic, but the power of economics.
 
Think of how those dollars help everyone. Every dollar spent in the Temple area strengthens our community. The stores, restaurants, and entertainment facilities we patronize pay taxes. Those taxes help pay for the ser­vices we expect, such as police, fire, and infrastructure. These businesses also pay salaries and wages to our neighbors, family, and friends.
 
You can purchase all the goods and services imaginable in the Temple area. Join us this year by thinking about shopping with Temple Chamber Members first to keep our “magical” dollars at home and be part of building the local economy!
 
This Holiday season, and always, give local businesses your support. There is no need to roam as the best shop­ping is at home. Let's have a Temple area Christmas!
 
To find the best spots in the greater Temple area to shop, enjoy, and explore locally visit the Temple Chamber's online Business Directory at bit.ly/ThinkTempleFirst.

​Small business Saturday is November 26, 2022. This nationwide effort is poised to direct lots of retail traffic and revenue to U.S. small businesses. And you’ll want to be a part of it.
 
Started by American Express, to support small businesses during the 2010 recession, Small Business Saturday became recognized by the U.S. Senate and all 50 states in 2011.
 
The holidays are all about giving – and the best gift you can give local businesses is your support. Get out there and Shop Small this Small Business Saturday to kick off the season in a meaningful way.
 
Click the button below to find the best spots in the greater Temple area to shop, enjoy, and explore locally!

​Wes Albanese started his own photography business around five years ago. Wes saw a lack of full-time photographers in the area and was interested in turning his photography hobby into a career. When he saw a rise in photographers, he knew it was time to jump in. Wes quit his job and took off with Wes Albanese Photography!

Wes offers real estate photography, corporate headshots, individual portraits, family portraits, and weddings. For his real estate clients, Wes offers aerial photography and Matterport 3D tours. Wes commission some of his work and has offered photography classes. He runs a photo booth business, as well.

Wes is motivated by the cell phone. Knowing that people walk around with a camera in their back pocket and yet they still choose to hire him excites Wes. It helps encourage him to keep putting in the hard work behind the camera. Using a professional camera helps him stand out from cell phone photos. Wes also understands that clients will choose one company over the other when looking online due to whether they have professional pictures or not.

​When starting Wes Albanese Photography, Wes did not want to limit himself to one area of photography as most photographers do. He set a goal to have seven different categories of photography offered in his business, and Wes has been able to surpass that goal. The next time you are in need of a photographer, reach out to Wes to see what all he can do!