The second annual Small Business Saturday boosted sales for a countless number of independent stores and flea market vendors across the United States, giving buyers a local alternative between Black Friday and Cyber Monday by bringing new customers into independent stores and re-emphasizing the need to shop in the community this holiday season. Small Business Saturday is one of numerous campaigns geared to encourage shoppers to buy holiday purchases from independent sellers.
Making Local a Priority
Josie Leavitt, co-owner of The Flying Pig Bookstore in Shelburne, Vermont, reporting on the increase of buyers on November 26th on Publisher’s Weekly’s blog, noted “What was so lovely about Saturday was the glee in customers’ faces as I’d ring them up and they’d say, ‘I’m here for Small Business Saturday. You are my business.’ I’d smile back and thank them. It was heartening to see so many new faces on Saturday. People actually thought about what small business to go to and were happy to let us know they’d chosen us.”
This includes flea markets. Wolff’s Flea Market, a market with two locations in Illinois, summed up the feeling of the day best, noting that all flea markets are a coalition of independent small businesses. “Wolff’s Flea Market is home to hundreds of small businesses in one location,” the market wrote on its website in an announcement for Small Business Saturday. “Our vendors use the low rent and high exposure of a flea market to set the stage for their small business. For some, it is a temporary launching pad until they have amassed enough money and followers to open their own brick and mortar building…For others, the flea market is their permanent home. Next time you visit Wolff’s Palatine, look around and you will see the familiar faces who have made the market their ‘Small Business Home.’ Notice a food outlet, overstock items, books galore, giftware, dollar store items, cash for gold, jewelry repair, computer services, storage shed clean-out, estate sale buyers, antique dealers or even a closed brick and mortar business selling inventory. You will always find reasonable deals while supporting the local small businessmen and women who make Wolff’s Flea Market their business.”