Black Friday is not the only day for shopping deals.
Carson City’s downtown businesses are taking part in Small Business Saturday, a promotion started by American Express in 2010 that has become an annual ritual for shoppers.
The Saturday after Thanksgiving is set aside for shopping at local merchants, rather than national chain stores.
By last year, consumers spent $16.2 billion at independent retailers and restaurants on the day, according to the Small Business Saturday Consumer Insights Survey.
“We’ve got this new, beautiful downtown encouraging walking and shopping and it’s not filled with chains, it’s filled with local mom and pop stores,” said Kyle Horvath, a board member of the Downtown Business Association.
And many stores are offering incentives to bring buyers through their doors.
“We’ll have hot apple cider and cookies and a little gift for everyone who comes through the door,” said Sue Jones, who with her husband Stan owns The Purple Avocado gift store on Curry Street. “We’re trying to make it festive and fun. It’s always been a great day.”
South on Curry Street, Due Sorella, already decorated with six antique Christmas trees, will be serving cider, too.
For holiday shoppers, Julie Granger, the shop’s owner, has for sale Amaryllis bulbs ready to bloom as well as angel vine and lemon cypress plants and is hosting wreath making classes on Dec. 6-7.
Across the street, everything is at least 15 percent off at Hanifin’s Arts & Antiques if buyers mention Small Business Saturday, said Michael Robbins, the store’s owner.
Artsy Fartsy art gallery on Curry Street is all in with customer tote bags from American Express promoting #ShopSmall, the social media campaign for Small Business Saturday, as well as wine tasting, chocolate truffles made locally and specials on some items including jewelry and hand-painted gourds.
Angie Fluitt, an artist who makes jewelry from recycled materials and is one of 65 artists whose work is available in the shop, will be on hand to meet customers, said Jeffrey Pace, owner.
This year will be Artsy Fartsy’s last Small Business Saturday in the 400 square-foot Telegraph Street space it has occupied for five and a half years.
In January, the store is moving around the corner to 1,600 square-foot digs on Nevada Street.
For some stores, this is their first Small Business Saturday.
The Carson City Art Gallery on Curry Street, which opened in September, will be serving refreshments and offering deals on works throughout the shop.
Photographs by Tanja Mussleman, for example, will be 50 percent off as will pottery pieces made by the store’s owners, Robin and Rich McGregor.
Jewelry by Phil Lary will be specially priced and baskets made Sande Rowan will soon be leaving the store so it is the last chance to buy her work, said Robin McGregor.
Also, in December 10 percent of all sales at the shop will be donated to the food program at Friends in Service Helping.
Kaleidoscope, which opened on Carson Street in July, is offering 10 percent off everything in shop on both Black Friday and Small Business Saturday.
The new antiques and vintage decor store, which struggled a bit through the downtown project, is looking forward to the shopping promotions.
“Since construction ended it has been so much better,” said Robin Shriver, the shop’s owner. “It’s been steady since and I think it’s definitely drawing people downtown.”