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Business Monday briefs: Aspen chamber hands out awards; retail sales flat in November

ACRA honors individuals, businesses

The Aspen Chamber Resort Association’s Helen K. Klanderud Wintersköl Awards Luncheon, held last week, recognized the Business and Nonprofit of the Year, the Defy Ordinary Award Winner, and the Molly Campbell Service Award Winner.

The following recipients were honored:



• Molly Campbell Service Award — Rick Balentine, Aspen Fire chief and CEO

• Defy Ordinary Award: Tom Yoder — owner, Kemo Sabe




• 2018 Nonprofit of the Year — WE-cycle

• 2018 Business of the Year — Limelight Hotel Aspen

Flat sales in November for Aspen retailers

Retailers in Aspen saw business drop off by 1 percent in November compared with November 2017, according to the city’s most recent sales tax report issued last week.

November is considered a slow month for business, accounting for about 4.1 percent of the city’s annual sales tax collections.

Retailers generated $29 million in sales in November, broken down by the following industries:

• Accommodations — $5 million, up 1 percent

• Restaurants/bars — $3.8 million, up 3 percent

• Sports equipment/clothing — $2 million, up 29 percent

• Clothing — $2 million, up 7 percent

• Food/drug — $2.9 million, down 1 percent

• Liquor — $512,135, down 1 percent

• Miscellaneous — $3 million, up 8 percent

• Construction — $3.3 million, down 32 percent

• Luxury goods — $986,230, up 13 percent

• Utilities — $3.7 million, up 9 percent

• Automobile — $1.3 million, down 2 percent

• Marijuana — $501,610, up 1 percent

From January through November of 2018, retailers brought in $650.9 million, up 4 percent over the same period in 2017, according to the city.