An experiment that turned out to be extremely successful for the Clinton County News is making a return this holiday season, giving shoppers and makers a chance to get together again – without ever leaving Clinton County.

Christmas from Clinton County! 2011

Hoping to once again promote shopping at home this holiday season, the Clinton County News is offering our resources to local crafters and manufacturers, big and small, to get the message out to local and area shoppers about possible Christmas gifts that are made by residents from Clinton County.

Last year’s premier Christmas from Clinton County! allowed participating local vendors to offer up ideas of possible Christmas gifts that could be purchased – made right here in Albany and Clinton County.

Last year’s offerings ranged from food items to decorative crafts – holiday themed and otherwise, to houseboats made right here within our Clinton County borders.

Prices for the gift possibilities ranged from a few dollars to over $1 million – but certainly offered up plenty of possibilities for local shoppers.

For those offering locally made gifts, like last year’s feature, price isn’t a factor – doesn’t matter if it’s a craft or a food or even a combination, cost a dollar or a sack full of dollars – if you make it here and offer it for sale here, then we want to tell all of our readers.

This feature opportunity is our gift to both of you – the maker and the buyer. We’re once again offering this service for free – yes, free advertising for your Clinton County made product right now, at the holiday season.

Getting in on the feature is easy – just send or bring a brief description of your original Clinton County made product, in about 100 words or less. Your description should include how the product is made, as well as a brief bio-sketch of yourself. Include a price or price range for your product(s), where pre-orders are necessary or if your product is readily available, and if so – where consumers can go to purchase your Christmas goods.

Include a photo of your product (and yourself with it would be even better) – and if you don’t have a photo, just come by our office at 116 N. Washington Street and we’ll make one right here – again, free of charge.

The Clinton County News will even go one step further to promote your locally produced product – we’ll put it on a display shelf with your contact info here in our office lobby for everyone to view – if you want.

The catch is, you’ve got to get it done quickly. We’re planning on publishing this feature in our December 15 issue, so we need your submissions no later than Friday, December 9 – sooner would be better.

Bring your descriptions and photos by our office at 116 N. Washington Street in Albany, or email them to: gpcompany@kih.net (photos should be attached to the email as jpeg (jpg) attachments).

If you were one of our featured product makers from last year, you are welcomed to re-submit again this year.

Simply submitting to this offer won’t guarantee publication, we’ll have to judge whether or not your product meets what we’re looking for with this feature idea.

As was the case last year, we know that locally produced Christmas gifts are out there – and we’re trying to help tell everyone about them.

Have a Merry… Christmas from Clinton County !