Small businesses get Saturday shopping boost

After Black Friday’s frenzy, before Cyber Monday’s pajama-clad perusing, comes Small Business Saturday, asking shoppers to share a bit of the holiday pie with local retailers.

“It calls attention away from the malls and big-box stores,” said Terry James between wrapping purchases for customers at Farmers Daughter in McHenry Village on Friday.

Small Business Saturday started four years ago to steer more of the billions of dollars Americans will spend this Thanksgiving weekend toward small retailers.

It helps bring attention to hometown boutiques like hers, said Farmer’s Daughter owner Cheri Merenda. “Hopefully, people will become aware of stores in their own community.” Being small can be an asset, she added. “We can choose more unique items, geared toward our own customers.”

Browsing sale ornaments at the back of the store, Georgia Wight of Linden and daughter Tiffany Rivas said coming to the store is a family tradition. “You find stuff here you can’t find anywhere else – love it!” Wight said.

Across the way at Village Health Foods, clerk Nikki Whitaker said she talks up the day wherever she goes. “I think it really is important to think where you want to spend your money, especially if you want it to benefit you here in your community,” she said as she crossed items off a long to-do list.

The locally owned health food store and juice bar in McHenry Village offers customers a less corporate option, she said. “We’ve been here since 1970 – we’re all about that.”

Small Business Saturday will give a nod this year to locally owned restaurants and bars. The Small Business Administration teamed up with the National Restaurant Association, asking shoppers to refresh and revive between purchases Saturday at hometown eateries and drinking establishments.

In downtown Modesto, Cheryl Brown lunched with her daughter, Caitlin Brown of Castro Valley, at Cafe Deva. “We’ve always come to this place,” Cheryl Brown said. “Instead of doing Black Friday, we went to a show at the State and then here. It’s a mother-daughter afternoon.”

Deva will be packed with booths Saturday night for the annual Mod Shop: Indie Crafters Market, formerly Hand Born, which grew out of the Small Business Saturday movement. “We have no room to serve, it’s so packed,” said Deva owner Lorena Loftis. “Businesswise, it’s not big, but it brings in future business,” she said. “That’s the reason for it.”

Mira Bridal Couture will host booths for Mod Shop as well, said manager Shy Singh. “Downtown isn’t a destination shopping area. Small Business Saturday gets the word out,” Singh said.

“There’s so many great artistic spirits in this town. It’s so great to see them boost each other this way,” she said.

This story was originally published November 28, 2014 at 4:58 PM with the headline "Small businesses get Saturday shopping boost."