ZIONSVILLE, Ind. – Another black Friday is in the books, but the weekend of shopping is not over! Small business owners in central Indiana spent the day preparing for Small Business Saturday.
“We like to offer a lot of handmade, in Indiana, items,” said Erica Carpenter, owner of Five Thirty Home.
Gifts can’t get more local than that. Zionsville pillows, totes, and more are displayed proudly in Carpenter’s store.
“If you wanted something like everybody else, you will go to a big-box store. But if you want something that’s special and a gift for someone you love, you can come shop here,” she said.
With the holiday shopping season now a go, Carpenter and other business owners along Zionsville’s Main Street anxiously await Saturday and the movement to Shop Small.
“It’s a great place to do your shopping,” said Siro Derrer-Brooks.
Derrer-Brooks opened Siro’s Chic Boutique two years ago. She is a former personal shopper at Nordstrom, with an eye for the unique, hoping that style can lure shoppers in.
“We try to make boutiques, specialty businesses for you. We have things you don’t find anywhere else,” she said.
American Express kicked off Small Business Saturday in 2010. The popularity exploded through the years, with shoppers spending roughly $14.3 billion on Small Business Saturday in 2014.
It is proof large chains aren’t the only stores with much to gain.
“I think retailers are always excited about Christmas season, because it represents between thirty to forty percent of their profits for the year. So, it could make or break many smaller retailers,” said Dr. Richard Feinberg, Head of the Department of Consumer Science at Purdue University.
Derrer-Brooks will offer a special $20 off a $50 purchase Saturday at her store, along with snacks, coffee, and water for shoppers.
They are signs that small business owners are fighting just as hard for your dollar this holiday as the big guys.
“We work really hard to make it a shopping event for people, and we put a lot of time, money, and effort into it,” said Carpenter.
The Zionsville Christmas Parade and Tree Lighting is planned for Saturday. Business owners hope despite the rain, that will add an extra bump in sales for Small Business Saturday.
