Small Business Saturday trying to boost sales for local shops
WAYNESBURG – More than a dozen local businesses in Waynesburg will again feature bargain sales this weekend – a day after Black Friday – though many say results from recent Small Business Saturday sales were mixed.
Organizations belonging to Downtown Waynesburg Merchants Guild will open their doors for Small Business Saturday, which is sponsored nationally through American Express and promoted locally through Waynesburg Prosperous and Beautiful.
The event, which started three years ago, gives participating organizations a show of how dollars spent at local stores create a multiplier effect in the local economy. For each dollar spent at a local store, $2 to $3.50 is recirculated back into the local economy, continuing local growth.
“Downtown Waynesburg has grown over the last few years,” Waynesburg Prosperous and Beautiful committee member Nancy Wrick said. “We are trying to do all we can to support them and keep them here for as long as we can.”
Each store involved will offer $5 off of any purchase of $25 or more.
“We are hoping for the sidewalks to be overrun with shoppers this Saturday,” Wrick said.
Similar events are becoming popular throughout small-town America as support for local mom-and-pop stores dwindles.
Tammy Fischer, who owns Fischer’s Antiques on Church Street, thinks it’s hard to get people to shop locally.
“I see a lot of the same customer base every year,” Fischer said. “We are trying as a group now to get more shopping here, but it is hard because people don’t know of everything available.”
Fischer is hopeful things are changing with a younger generation seemingly focused more about where the product comes than on the price.
5 Kidz Kandy co-owner Kristy Vliet is optimistic Small Business Saturday will bring more people into the downtown area to shop.
“When you look at the heart of it, we are the businesses that support local schools and foundations, and now we are asking for some community support back,” Vliet said.
5 Kidz Kandy does see an increase in business during events like this and believes Saturday will be no different. They will host several independent businesses, such as “31” and Mary Kay representatives.
“I think more people are starting to appreciate the local side of stores,” Vliet said.
Angel Boyle, owner of B & B Jewelry & Beads on High Street, said she watched the industry change over the past 29 years.
When Boyle started, locally owned stores dominated, but customers then started shopping at large chains. Now, she sees business being taken away by online shopping.
“It’s just easier to stay inside then to go shop, so no one does and that hurts small businesses,” Boyle said. “But we have just as good prices here as you will find online or in the mall.”
Boyle said last year’s Small Business Saturday sales went well.
“A lot of people from Waynesburg came in and shopped who had no idea what we had to offer,” Boyle said.
Along with Small Business Saturday, local businesses are also running another campaign called Naughty or Nice until Dec. 22. During that time, businesses will offer samples of merchandise, along with wrapping items purchased by customers.