Strong response in Town to Small Business Saturday
Defined by Julie Blaylock, Farragut West Knox Chamber of Commerce president/CEO, Small Business Saturday is a holiday started by American Express as a movement to encourage shoppers, in kicking off their holidays, to “shop small … usually the Saturday right after Thanksgiving … that follows the infamous Black Friday.”
“It’s my first Small Business Saturday, so it’s pretty cool to see a lot of the local support for small business with people coming in,” said Pat Burnett, owner of Brickhouse Collectibles, 163 West End Ave. in West End Center.
“We just had eight sets of customers. They’ve been coming in waves, so it’s been steady all day,” Burnett added. “People are spending, which is great. I think we’re going to do well this holiday. I’m hoping everyone will do well, the economy will bounce back and roll out the year strong.”
“Small Business Saturday has been a good experience,” Elliott’s Boots Shoes Sandals manager Brian Sutthin said. “We’ve had a lot of people coming in, some good deals on some stuff. It’s been a good day for us.”
“Here at our Chamber, we prefer to say ‘shop local’ because we have members who are small businesses, but we also have members who are part of a larger franchise. Still, they are local stores,” Blaylock said.
The holiday “helps put the focus on the small businesses,” said Ricki Human, co-owner of Ricki’s Pet Depot, 11505 Kingston Pike in Village Green shopping center.
“We love Small Business Saturday,” said Rene Mackley, merchandising manager with Linda’s Hallmark Gold Crown Store, 11527 Kingston Pike in Village Green shopping center.
“We always appreciate the relationship we make with our long-term customers,” she added. “… And this time of year it’s so fun to see all the families come in with kids and grandkids to pick out their yearly Hallmark keepsake ornament.”
“People know it’s Small Business Saturday — they usually will tell us that — so they pay attention,” said April Moss, Linda’s Hallmark store manager.
Rick Terry, owner of Rick Terry Jewelry Designs at 11320 Kingston Pike, said about SBS, “They should have small business, period, for every day of the week.”
He said November, in all, has been a good month for his store.
Terry also said he has seen many people come in who have been on “lockdown,” having saved money during that time and now are ready to spend their savings.
“I think we’re going to do just fine as far as what our Christmas business is going to be,” he added.
”Shop Small has come to mean shop unique, shop smart and to help your neighbor in many ways,” said Steve Krempasky, executive director of Shop Farragut/Farragut Business Alliance. “… Local sales tax collections are reflected back in the community where you live.”
