Small business Saturday brings customers downtown

Plenty of shoppers picked up gifts for the holidays while also supporting Small Business Saturday in downtown Weiser.

 Retailers reported an uptick in the number of people downtown on a day dedicated to shopping local to boost the bottom lines of independent retailers.

 Business was up at Weiser Classic Candy, where co-owner Patrick Nauman was helping behind the counter with a late lunch crowd of shoppers.

 Nauman, who also serves as co-chairman of the Weiser’s economic task force, said people told him they were trading their Black Friday shopping for  Small Business Saturday. 

 Torrina Logan was having lunch with the entire family at the candy shop and doing some shopping downtown. She also wanted to spend money locally. 

 “It has a much greater impact than shopping at a big box store,” she said.

 Santa and Mrs. Claus also stopped by the candy store to ask youngsters what they wanted for Christmas. 

 The old standard Legos were popular, along with LOL toys. One kid wanted a Nintendo and another didn’t have his mind made up yet.

 Miss Western Idaho Grace Zimmerman assisted Mr. and Mrs. Claus and greeted kids.

 At Pepper’s coffee shop across the street, owner Nicole Sharp also saw plenty of business and made a lot of specialty drinks, especially mochas on Saturday. She also has expanded her inventory to include a wide variety of gifts and books.

 The store gave away surprise discounts during the afternoon. Many shoppers mentioned they were out and about because of Small Business Saturday, Sharp said.

 Employee Emily Abramson said there was a steady stream of customers that started at 10 a.m.

 “Saturday mornings are pretty busy but today was a lot,” she said.

 The owner of the Pampered Pooch on State Street also reported higher foot traffic in the store. Besides grooming, the business stocks collars, grooming products, toys, treats, shampoos and more for pets.

 “It’s nice to see everybody out supporting the community,” owner Melissa White said.

 The Weiser Area Chamber of Commerce held its holiday open house on Saturday and promoted the shop local effort by handing out buttons and other items. The Chamber sponsored a bingo game with prizes for the winners. Shoppers filled out the bingo cards by visiting the businesses on the cards. They turned completed cards in and the Chamber will draw for the first and second place winners.

 Downtown businesses stayed open later hours on Small Business Saturday and offered sales or specials for customers. There was also live entertainment in the afternoon on State Street, which was blocked off for the event.

 Small Business Saturday was an initiative first launched by American Express in 2010. The goal every year is to encourage people to shop and dine at local businesses on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. 

 When consumers spend their dollars at locally owned small businesses they boost the local economy and keep people working.

 Falling between Black Friday and Cyber Monday, Small Business Saturday was projected by the National Retail Federation to be a big holiday spending day across the U.S. 

 The world’s largest retail trade association estimated that 67 million people were planning to shop on Small Business Saturday. The estimate was based on a survey of 7,516 consumers conducted between Oct. 29 and Nov. 7.