Small Business Saturday draws shoppers to downtown York

Many local stores and shoppers came together to celebrate Small Business Saturday. Throughout downtown Fort Smith, those local shops have signs to encourage shoppers to do just that. So businesses, like the ones in Lincoln Square, really pride themselves on highlighting keeping things small.

Small businesses account for 40-percent of new jobs created in the last two decades, according to the U.S. Small Business Administration.

“You are literally supporting your town, not some big chain that’s not really here”, Brandy Ragsdale said.

It’s estimated that more than 100 million people participated in Small Business Saturday a year ago.

J. Martin is the owner of obelisk home in downtown Springfield and explains, “there’s stuff here that you can’t find in a big retailer”.

“I guess I’m not anxious about that, because people will go to Starbucks if they wanna go to Starbucks”.

Some first time local business owners weren’t quite sure what to expect.

“Without small business you get inferior products”, said Ann Mooney of Lucky Moon Gardens.

“So many people come in, and once they realize how many businesses are in here and it’s all local, they are so excited”, Ragsdale said. In fact, he said Small Business Saturday was much busier than Black Friday.

American Express says in 2015, 95 million people across the country went out to shop at small businesses.

Clarke has owned the store on North Beaver Street for 12 years, and the shop had quite a crowd the day after Black Friday. Kind of expect it because now I believe this will probably be our best day of the year.

“Sometimes customer experience is OK in the larger type of warehouse shops, but I prefer having that small type conversation here”, said one shopper.

“Hunter Harlan says, “‘Just being part of this community, I think that’s a big deal for us in Rapid City.

“You’re not only supporting that business you are supporting jobs, you are supporting future growth”, said Kristen Ley.

“I like to build a relationship with these people”, said Lovejoy.