Vermonters Shop Small Business Saturday

Locally owned stores in Charlottesville are cashing in on the holiday shopping spree. The small business has been a part of Tom’s family since the 1960s.

She says it’s not just her store that’s unique, its most of the small businesses in Reno. Business owners tell us supporting local is all about supporting your community. Now W.O.W. Meow Inc. sells books and artwork to the community.

DeLaney said the local businesses downtown not only support each other, but they receive support from the community as well.

It was well known that the day after Thanksgiving was the biggest shopping day of the year for chain retailers, but locally owned businesses said they needed support, too.

The holiday shopping season kicked off for businesses big and small this weekend. “The material and quality of the clothes are very good”, said Doug Balvenz, a small business shopper.

Loeb says the local stores have a lot of competition with big box stores, but customers shop local because there is one thing the bigger stores are missing.

Local shop Tangled Up In Hue says on this day they’ve seen their sales increase by at least 30%.

If long lines are fighting for a parking spot stresses you out, small businesses may be the answer to keep that in-store experience.

“They can actually try something out or look at it, touch it, feel it and know exactly what it is instead of going, “Well, I hope that it’s going to be what I’m looking for”, says Manuppella.

An event in Ballard brought local food tucks, breweries and shops together. “Find some local businesses that maybe you haven’t been in before”.

According to Forbes, 88 million customers shopped on Small Business Saturday throughout the country past year totaling more than $14 billion dollars spent at local and independent businesses.