Wende Hook, owner of His Inspirations, is getting the store ready for Small Business Saturday by hanging Christmas ornaments.. Too Cute Totes and Blush Skin Spa and Boutique are also located in the same building.
Small Business Saturday is an opportunity for consumers to support businesses that make up the foundation of their community, and for businesses to offer appreciation deals to their customers, a national survey reveals.
According to the third-annual Small Business Saturday Insights Survey released last week by the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) and American Express, consumer support for independently owned businesses is increasing. More than three quarters — or 78 percent — of shoppers said they will be spending more or the same amount on Small Business Saturday as they did in 2013, providing independent businesses with a welcome boost in holiday sales.
Held each year on the Saturday following Thanksgiving, Small Business Saturday focuses on supporting the local businesses that create jobs, boost the economy and preserve neighborhoods around the country.
“Small Business Saturday and our Live Local Fallon campaign really go together,” said Rick Gray, executive director of Fallon Convention and Tourism Authority. “Both of these events support the same purpose, our community businesses. A lot of small businesses in town participate in our campaign so when people go to shop at these businesses if they have the passport they can potentially get rewarded for shopping locally. It’s a win for everyone.”
Shoppers are encouraged to shop Fallon first and see what the local businesses offer.
“We really want to drive residents to shop at the businesses in town,” said Natalie Parrish, executive director of the Fallon Chamber of Commerce. “We want to help boost local business growth.”
A number of small business owners will be participating in Small Business Saturday, and they hope their deals will be enticing enough to draw more shoppers.
Too Cute Totes, His Inspirations and Blush Skin Spa and Boutique, for example, will be open from 6 a.m.-5 p.m., but from 6 a.m.-10 a.m., all three businesses will be offering 30 percent off all items in the store, but excluding essential oils. From 10 a.m.-noon the sale reduces to 20 percent and from noon-5 p.m. it drops to 15 percent.
“Last year was a great year for us ... we were blessed,” said Kari Ernst, owner of Blush Skin Spa and Boutique. “We’re hopeful this year we’ll have a great turnout too. We will be handing out complementary gift with any purchase totaling $15 or more and we will continue Small Business Saturday deals up until Christmas but with different discounts changing each Saturday.”
Red Zinnia will be hosting a party for Small Business Saturday with complimentary hot cider and gourmet food. Red Zinnia will also offer free gift-wrapping. For every $25 spent, shoppers will receive a $5 gift card. These deals will be offered today to Sunday, today 10 a.m.-10 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
“Today we will be having a special wine tasting,” owner Susan Henderson said. “Customers will receive a free cloth tote with a purchase of $25 and we also have several deals going on throughout the store. If you buy three Christmas ordainments you will get a fourth one free.”
Barn Door, which is a recently opened consignment shop off of Maine Street, will be open from 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m. with shoppers having the opportunity to pull discounted price tags up to 25 percent off from a jar. Owner Alyce Campbell said there is a little bit of everything in her store that will appeal to everyone.
Another newcomer to the scene, Buttsup Duck Design, will be open from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Although the design company has been around for more than six years, this is the first year they have had a retail shop. Owner Kelly Campbell said the store would be offering a buy one, get a second one for 25 percent off (equal or less value).
“Our store offers screen printing, embroidering, decals … anything you can thing about putting on apparel and promotional items, we can do it,” Campbell said.