NACOGDOCHES, Texas (KTRE) – For businesses around the country, Black Friday and Cyber Monday bring in stampedes of foot traffic and increases in sales. While some small businesses get a piece of that, downtown Nacogdoches business owners are stressing the importance of shopping small and local on Small Business Saturday.
“It’s important to keep our people working and our town thriving,” said Connie Alders, owner of Blue-Eyed Cocos Market Square and Chique-N-Tiques across the street.
Her store houses about 56 small business owners, and she says a day like Small Business Saturday pushes money back into Nacogdoches.
“Most of those people work other jobs, but it’s like their side hustle. A lot of them, they make almost as much a month as they do at their job,” said Alders.
American Express founded Small Business Saturday in 2010, and last year, they found shoppers spent about $17 million at small businesses on that day.
Wild Bleu Boutique Owner Julie Cornelius said it’s that kind of support small businesses need year-round.
“I just think it’s super important to shop local because you’re helping someone else pay their bills. I mean, you just bought my kid a Christmas gift, too,” said Cornelius.
The National Retail Federation predicted over 130 million people would shop on Black Friday, and about half that plan to shop on Saturday.
“I think it’s really important to support downtown, support your hometown and support small businesses,” said Alders.
As an added treat during Small Business Saturday, shoppers can enjoy wassail from different downtown Nacogdoches businesses as part of their annual Wassail Fest, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
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