Small Business Saturday kicks off the local Yuletide season in Fallon

Peg Buckner enjoys the holiday season and the excitement of people peering into shop windows looking at decorations or for Christmas gift ideas.

Small Business Saturday is a national movement for residents to support their hometown businesses and shop for the holidays.

“It’s important to stay in Fallon and support the small businesses,” said Buckner, owner of the Picture This! Studio and Gallery on South Maine Street. “People need to keep their tax dollars in Fallon.”

Buckner, though, sees benefits for shoppers to spend the entire day in Fallon. She said people could shop, then have either lunch or dinner at one of the area restaurants and wrap up the day by attending a movie either at Fox Peak Cinema or Fallon Theatres.

“You don’t have to travel and spend extra money on gasoline,” she said. “You can find similar prices in Fallon if you look, and keep the small stores in business.”

Buckner’s photo studio and gallery, which will celebrate 19 years in February, will be open Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 or 4 p.m.

Across the street and up the block from Buckner’s studio are three businesses — His Inspirations, Too Cute Totes and Kari Ernst’s Blush Skin and Spa Boutique — housed in one building. The Christmas flavor has already spruced up the businesses.

Wende Hucke, owner of His Inspirations, said she and the other two proprietors always look forward to Small Business Saturday. She said the businesses will be closed today but open Saturday for incremental deals: From 6-10 a.m. everything is 30 percent off; from 10 a.m.-noon, 20 percent off; and from noon to 5 p.m., 15 percent off.

“There is a push to keep people shopping locally,” Hucke said. “It’s extremely important.”

Rachel Dahl, executive director of the Churchill Economic Development Authority, concurs with keeping shopping money in Fallon.

“Small Business Saturday is driving customers to local stores,” Dahl said. “We want to make existing businesses stronger. We need to support them (business owners) and make the commitment to the folks who take a risk.”

Dahl said CEDA, along with other agencies, has a focus to attract additional customers and eventually more businesses to Fallon.

Kelly Campbell, co-owner of Buttsup Duck Designs, has been busy even before the holiday season began. For the past week, she has been busy selling Greenwave apparel because of the success of the high-school football team winning state.

“Every dollar left in Fallon is fantastic,” she said, adding she hopes to build on the momentum of people buying apparel honoring the team for Saturday’s first state title since 1978.

Buttsup will be closed today but open from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Saturday with a 25 percent discount on one item or 10 percent on the entire purchase.

Premier Pawnbrokers, an anchor business on South Maine and East Richards streets, is ready for this season’s Small Business Saturday. Owner Dion Draper said his business has affordable prices and layaway.

Jill Christiansen of Jeff’s Digitex Printing said they can assist shoppers by shipping gifts via the U.S. Post Office, UPS or Fed Ex. She said Jeff’s can gift wrap, pack and ship ... all in one step.

During the Christmas season, Christiansen said patrons can have their special photographs or artwork framed.

Although Just County Friends, a gift store on West Williams Avenue, kicked off the holiday season last weekend, co-owners Billie Jo Snow and Karen Cann invite residents to stop in and look at the many different items on display.

“We’ll have specials and gifts for the holidays,” Snow said.

According to both Snow and Cann, shoppers from Reno, Carson City and Fernley also come to their store, some remarking that Just Country Friends has more items than many Reno gift stores.

Kathy Openshaw, a member of the Fallon Downtown Merchants Association and co-owner of Openshaw Saddlery, encourages people to shop locally. She said Small Business Saturday will also be extended to the weekends before Christmas with many downtown businesses participating in themed promotions.