Small businesses gear up for holiday shopping

Small biz satToday is Black Friday — the day when shoppers rush retailers for some of the year most enticing sales — but tomorrow is Small Business Saturday.

Started as a national campaign in 2010, it’s a campaign that encourages people to shop small businesses in their community.

Several local businesses are offering sales and specials to draw in customers.

Ben “Stone” Stomberg, owner of Stone Alley Books and Collectibles tells WGIL that the deals they offer have turned Saturday into a bigger boom for business than Black Friday.

“It’s one of the few times per year that we actually have new books on sale at the store,” Stone says. “We have used book specials and specials on comic books and gaming as well. We try to do lots of little small things as well, like snacks and drinks and things like that. It’s a good day for us.”

Barb McCommons, manager of Cooks and Company, has noticed shoppers come in from as far as Peoria and the Quad Cities to buy in Galesburg stores.

McCommons says the string of locally owned shops downtown have thrived due to a loyal following.

“We have so many faithful shoppers that refuse to go to the big box stores unless they absolutely have to,” McCommons says.

A survey conducted by the National Federation of Independent Businesses and American Express found on average consumers are planning on doing 35% of their holiday shopping locally for 2015.

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