Shop Small and Get Big Rewards this Season

BAY CITY, Mich. -- Forget the crowds at your typical big-box stores this holiday season and shop small! Small Business Saturday is November 24th, but we encourage you to support your local businesses all season long. Not only does it put a smile on your local entrepreneur's face, it keeps your tax dollars in your neighborhood, creates jobs in your community, and gives you a more unique array of products to choose from. 

In case you're not convinced here's a few other awesome reasons you should shop small: 

• It Helps the Environment - as most small businesses offer locally sourced products it cuts down on packaging and transportation, thus reducing carbon footprint. 
• Personalized Customer Service - independent business owners know and care about their clientele which leads to an exceptional service experience. 
• Increase Tourism - independent retailers and service providers offer unique goods and services that can lure tourists to your community which boosts your local economy. 
• It Feels Good - Supporting small businesses doesn't just get your shopping list checked off, it makes your local entrepreneur's day. Spread the cheer this holiday season, shop small! 

Here's a few of our favorite picks for local businesses in the Bay City area that have the holiday gift game on lock. 

1. ARTIGIANO 

This sweet little shop is a foodie's dream, with an inventory that consists of artisan cheese, cured meats and pates, small batch preserves, and authentic gelato! Have them design a charcuterie tray for your next holiday event, or give the tastemaker in your life a subscription to their cheese of the month box! 

2. REBEL MAGNOLIA LLC

This super cute store is the perfect place to find a gift for the hard-to-shop for girl. Not only is this spot full of unique, Michigan-made items like bags, blankets, jewelry, and clothes, the staff provides friendly, top-notch service. 

3. RETRO ATTICS 

This quaint little furniture and curios outfit is sure to have the perfect piece for the designer on your list. From vintage boots to collector's rugs and ottomans, there's no doubt you'll find something unique here. 

4. 99 TREES BOOKSTORE 

The only true bookstore in Bay City, this gem is full of gifts perfect for all ages and all interests. It's well organized, and the staff is super friendly. It may be number four on our list but we give this spot 5 stars! 

5. FERNE BOUTIQUE 

This sweet little shop was founded by a Detroit native who relocated to the Bay area and couldn't find a store that catered to her style. Named after her grandmother, Ferne Boutique, is full of cute clothes, accessories and gifts for all the stylish women in your life. 

6. STUDIO 23 / THE ARTS CENTER 

Stop by Studio 23 every Sunday during the holiday season for an artist pop-up extravaganza. Not only will you be supporting local talent, you're sure to find something wonderful for the art lover in your life. 

7. HERMAN HISS AND CO. 

This local treasure has been a part of the Bay City community since 1867. More than just a high-end jewelry store, the offer a great selection of accessories and home accents. Known for their beautiful collections and top-notch service, Herman Hiss and Co is the perfect place to shop a gift full of shimmer and shine. 

8. COYER CANDLE 

This little gem offers products from over 75 Michigan and other USA artisans in a sweet, welcoming atmosphere. Plus, they're offering a special gift to the first 5 customers to spend $50 on Small Business Saturday, so make sure you get there early!

9. HALF MILE HANDMADE

Proud supporters of the maker movement, hand mile handmade offers products from artisans all over Michigan and the US. Their wide selection of clothes, art, home goods, and more ensures you'll find something for everyone on your list. 

10. JACK'S BICYCLE SHOP

If you have a cyclist in your life, you need to check out Jack's Bicycle Shop. Their shop is full of unique bikes and gear with a friendly, humorous staff to boot. They handle custom builds, repairs and even offer a rental program as well! 

Do you have a favorite local retailer we didn't include in our list? Comment and let us know! We'll see you in the shops on 11/24. Happy Holidays and happy shopping! 

Hank Graff Chevy is located at 3636 Wilder Road, Bay City, MI 48706 and we are here to help our community grow to become an even better place to call home! For more information on Hank Graff Chevrolet, or for any questions call us at (989) 684-4411 or visit our website: www.GraffBayCity.com.

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Halloween Safety Tips

BAY CITY, Mich.––It's the spookiest time of the year again! When little ghouls and goblins will be running around at night collecting candy house by house. At Graff Bay City, our number one priority is your safety, which goes well beyond driving your Chevy. Follow these Halloween safety tips to make sure everyone gets home safe (and with tons of candy!).

If You're Walking...

• Before heading out, instruct your children to always wait to cross the street with you or another adult. Additionally, always use the designated crosswalks and observe the traffic signals. 

• Be wary of oversized costumes. It will be dark out and your child may trip on their costume if it's too big and baggy.

• Be careful with masks, as they often obstruct vision. See if you can convince your child to use face paint instead!

• Try attaching reflective tape to your child's costume. Or, give them a flashlight or glow sticks to carry, making them more visible to cars.

• Also as a general rule, children under the age of 12 should not be unsupervised. 

If You're Driving...

• In general, we recommend driving 5 mph below the speed limit in neighborhoods. 

• Make sure to use turn signals to communicate your intentions to other drivers. It will make navigating a busy neighborhood much easier for everyone. 

• Watch for vehicles in front of you. Cars will be stopping intermittently in the street to drop kids off at houses or pick them up. Also be cautious of passing a stopped vehicle as kids may be exiting abruptly and not in your line of sight.

• Watch for kids running in to the road. Young, candy crazed kids may be running around and accidentally run into the street. They also may be standing by or on the curb, or in medians. So best to be cautious.

• Even before sunset, turn on your headlights. It will help illuminate the street and sidewalks. 

• Put down the phone! You should never text and drive, but on Halloween night you especially need to avoid distracting yourself. 

• Give the right of way to groups of trick-or-treaters at intersections and cross walks.

Make sure everyone can enjoy their candy and trick-or-treating this year by observing our Halloween safety tips. They will help to keep the night spooky and safe! Join us for the SVSU Trunk-or-Treat event happening Friday, October 28th for a weather-proof, fun, and safe trick-or-treating experience. See our Facebook event for all the details. You can be safe all season long by taking care of routine and seasonal vehicle maintenance. Check out all our Fall Car Care tips for information on how to get your car ready for winter, and let us know how we can help.

Hank Graff Chevy is located at 3636 Wilder Road, Bay City, MI 48706 and we can help you find the perfect vehicle for your weekend getaway! For more information on Hank Graff Chevrolet, or for any questions call us at (989) 684-4411 or visit our website: www.GraffBayCity.com.

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Chevy Gets Ready For Baseball Season

BAY CITY, Mich. – Unless you live under a rock, you may have noticed that Major League Baseball opened up its 2015 season this past Monday. Opening Day is a major holiday here in Michigan, with thousands of people heading to downtown Detroit to watch the Tigers open up, what most hope to be, a successful season with a run at the World Series Championship. Chevy gets ready for baseball season and if you have ever been to Comerica Park or have watched the games on TV, you might have noticed the two Chevy vehicles perched atop the Chevy Fountain in centerfield. Every year, Chevy chooses select vehicles from its new lineup to display throughout the season.  Chevrolet has sponsored the fountain for the past six seasons, and this year a Velocity Yellow Corvette Z06 and a special Midnight Edition Silverado grace the walls of the centerfield fountain.

“As the Official Vehicle of Major League Baseball, what better way could Chevrolet show our love of the game than by giving our vehicles a bird’s eye view of our hometown team?” said Paul Edwards, Chevy’s VP of Marketing. Chevy gets ready for baseball season every year by putting two new Chevy models atop the fountain, which features a number of intricate and entertaining displays and the sound of a growling tiger that can be heard with each Detroit home run.

As you can imagine, it takes a bit of creativity to get the two models up onto the fountain, especially when it’s done in the rain. It takes crewmembers three hours to get each vehicle into the best position, using cranes and a very strategic plan. So, next time you make your way down to see the Tigers play some ball, or happen to catch an inning or two on TV, pay close attention to the two Chevys mounted on the centerfield wall, cheering on the home team to drive in those centerfield homeruns!

If you would like to test drive any of our new Silverados or Corvettes, than stop by visit the experts at your Frankenmuth Area Chevy Dealer ! If you have any questions or want to test drive a 2014 Chevy Spark!  Hank Graff Chevy is located at 3636 Wilder Road, Bay City, MI 48706 and we are here to help our community grow to become an even better place to call home! For more information on Hank Graff Chevrolet, or for any questions call us at (989) 684-4411 or visit our website: www.GraffBayCity.com.

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2016 Chevy Malibu Hybrid Will Get 45 M.P.G

BAY CITY, Mich. - There has been a lot of hype surrounding the new 2016 Chevy Malibu, and it is very well deserved! It started with the Safe Teen driving system, and now new information reveals that the 2016 Chevy Malibu hybrid will get 45 m.p.g! The next-generation Chevy Malibu Hybrid will have at least a 45 m.p.g in combined city and highway driving, thus making it one of THE MOST fuel-efficient mid-size sedans available on the market when it goes on sale in the spring of 2016.

Chevrolet’s electrified lineup will also include the next-generation 2016 Chevy Volt, and General Motors has future plans to make a completely all-electric car based on the Volt concept. GM will reveal the 2016 Malibu next week during the New York auto show. The 2016 Chevy Malibu hybrid will get 45 m.p.g and GM is using this new fuel-efficient technology to spur the Malibu and the Volt towards exceeding the Ford Fusion, Toyota Camry, and the Hyundai Sonata hybrids.

Chevrolet is truly raising the bar with the new 2016 Malibu and “The introduction of a hybrid versions of the Malibu comes at no surprise…” according to Jack Nerad, market analyst at Kelley Blue Book. He also states that, “These days, the midsize sedan segment is littered with hybrid versions as manufacturers seek to meet federal corporate average fuel economy standards” These standards will become much more severe in the coming years, which is forcing automotive companies to come up with new hybrid concepts.

If you have any questions on how integrating a hybrid Chevy model into your current inventory, or would like to test drive one, visit the experts at your Tuscola Area Chevrolet Dealer! Hank Graff Chevy is located at 3636 Wilder Road, Bay City, MI 48706 and we are here to help our community grow to become an even better place to call home! For more information on Hank Graff Chevrolet, or for any questions call us at (989) 684-4411 or visit our website: www.GraffBayCity.com.

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St. Patrick's Day Breakfast Recipes

BAY CITY, Mich. - The most green-tastic holiday is right around the corner....St. Patrick's Day!  As the excitement builds and everyone prepares to pay homage to the Irish culture on March 17th(whether they are Irish or not), we felt inclined to share a few breakfast dishes that will fill you with the luck of the Irish! We are sure that your entire family will love one of these St. Patrick's Day breakfast recipes and that each will be the perfect start to your St. Paddy's Day celebration!

St. Patrick's Day Breakfast Recipes

Corned Beef Hash and Baked Eggs

Mint Chocolate Chip Pancakes

Lucky Spinach Quiche

Corned Beef, Cabbage, and Red Potato Hash

Irish Eggs Benedict 

Irish Scones

Don't forget, March Mania is going on ALL MONTH long at your Tuscola Area Chevy Dealer! Hank Graff Chevy is located at 3636 Wilder Road, Bay City, MI 48706 and we are here to help our community grow to become an even better place to call home! For more information on Hank Graff Chevrolet, or for any questions call us at (989) 684-4411 or visit our website: www.GraffBayCity.com.

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Black Friday Deals at Graff Bay City

BAY CITY, Mich.- Thanksgiving is this Thursday which also means that Black Friday will follow and it's time to kick off holiday shopping with some big savings! As you check out all of this year's Black Friday offers, don't forget to check out the Black Friday Deals at Graff Bay City! We can help you save time and find gifts for those people in your life that may be tough to buy for!

Black Friday can be crazy at the mall or big retailers, so make things easy on yourself by coming to Graff Bay City first. If you need to get your vehicle serviced, just drop it off between 8am-5pm and our Black Friday Shuttle Service will take you to any shopping location within 30 miles of the dealership! So not only will you not have to search for parking, but you'll be checking two things off your to-do list at the same time!

Don't miss our Black Friday Oil Change Special if you just need a basic tune up! For just $19.95 you'll receive an oil change and entire vehicle check including brake pad wear, tire wear, fluid leaks, and belt durability! Our Black Friday Oil Change Special will be first come, first serve, so come early!

If you are looking to find a gift for that car lover on your list, then you do not want to miss the one day only Black Friday Deals at Graff Bay City! Our popular custom painted bowties will be buy one, get one 50% off! So you can get one for yourself and one for someone else. Or, you can give both away! But, if you're not quite sure what to get them, then our one day only gift card offer is the perfect solution! Buy $50 in Graff Gift Cards and get $5 free! Or, buy $100 in Graff Gift Cards and get $15 free, so the recipient can come in and pick out exactly what they love from our merchandise!

If you're heading out to shop on Black Friday, then stop by Graff Bay City first and you can make the most of your time by getting your vehicle serviced while you shop and avoid having to find parking at the mall! Hank Graff Chevy is located at 3636 Wilder Road, Bay City, MI 48706. For more information on Hank Graff Chevrolet, or for any questions call us at (989) 684-4411 or visit our websites: www.GraffBayCity.com.

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