Locally owned businesses fill a unique space in the community.
They're the go-to places for novel gifts or personalized service for some shoppers. But in the midst of the holiday shopping frenzy, people sometimes forget about the little guy.
Tucked between Black Friday and Cyber Monday, there was Small Business Saturday, a national effort to bring local shops to the forefront.
In Omaha's Old Market, dozens of people bundled up and braved nearly 40 mph wind gusts to shop, browse and support small businesses.
"I love it. This is a great idea," said Janice Mohs of Omaha, who said she went to Goldsmith Silversmith at 10th and Howard Streets because of Small Business Saturday. "They should do this again in the spring and summer, too."
Dwaine Ferguson, owner of the custom jewelry store, had a sign out front that stated, "We love our customers!"
He offered enticements such as discounts, snacks and a raffle that will run through Dec. 20.
"It's good for us. As a small business, we can't do big advertising," Ferguson said. "We need all the help we can get, especially in this economy."
Nationally, American Express helped spread the word with advertisements and promotions involving card credits and free gift cards.
Autumn Pruitt, owner of Bliss Bakery and Aromas Coffee House at 10th and Jones Streets, said several customers mentioned that Small Business Saturday brought them into her cozy, sweet-smelling shop.
She hopes they'll remember her dinner rolls made from her grandmother's recipe, her cinnamon pecan rolls or her winter-themed cupcakes as the holiday season progresses.
"I think people are conscious of how and where they spend their money, and we appreciate that," Pruitt said.
Next year she hopes to get more involved in the event by offering special promotions.
In west Omaha, about 50 people were in Fat Brain Toys, a locally owned shop that sells and develops thousands of specialty toys, games and gifts.
Several people said they had Fat Brain Toys on their holiday shopping lists because of the varied selection, not because it was Small Business Saturday.
The same was true of several shoppers at Kajoma's Boutique, 104 E. First St. in Papillion.
Accessory hunter Laura Anderson, 44, of Bellevue said the store's selection pulled her in. "They've got some really trendy looking stuff," she said.
Jeremy Hirsch of SnapRetail, which offers solutions to boost traffic for small retailers, said holiday sales are more significant to small businesses than large.
"The stakes are very high," he said.
Mark Carson, owner of Fat Brain Toys in Village Pointe South Shopping Center, said about half of his store's sales come in a 60-day period during the holidays.
He said the national campaign helps to remind people of the overall value of local shops.
Carson says his place and other local stores go out of their way to make their customers happy, as opposed to just selling the lowest-priced product.
Fat Brain Toys also offers free gift wrapping, and on Saturday customers got a free collector's edition ornament with each $25 purchase.
Kajoma's had discounts on clothing and extended hours. The shop also gave away $10 gift cards with every $50 purchase.
"We try to compete with bigger retailers, but this is an opportunity to step back and say, 'We're small, we're local, and we're glad we are,'" Carson said.
Several Council Bluffs stores also had discounts and deals to further increase foot traffic.
"Buying local puts the money back in the community," said Bambi Wilson, owner of Green Acres Natural Foods, 805 S. Main St.
"Buy It Local Omaha," which supported the initiative with free window stickers for businesses, estimated that for every $100 spent at a local business, $68 goes back into the community.
Joe and Jean Shulo planned to spend their Saturday in locally owned shops in the Old Market, searching for unusual and interesting gifts.
"We usually support locally owned stores anyway," Joe Shulo said, "but Small Business Saturday is a great idea to help support the mom and pops — they're really the backbone of the community."
World-Herald staff writers Kirby Kaufman and Leia Mendoza and Mike Brownlee of the World-Herald News Service contributed to this report.
Contact the writer:
402-444-3131, sam.womack@owh.com
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