Lake County >> Back in 2010, after everyone stuffed themselves with turkey and cranberries, followed by the scavenging of Wal-Marts and Targets, the first ever Small Business Saturday hoped to redirect shoppers to local downtowns. Sponsored by American Express, the event encouraged people to include mom and pops, in addition to the big box stores and their highly advertised sales.
Five years later, Small Business Saturday is still a thing. Many stores around Lake County are offering discounted items tomorrow. Lisa’s Clothing Sizes 3-60 in Clearlake is giving 30 percent off the entire store Saturday only. Lakeport’s Campos Casuals will offer 20-25 percent off many items and up to 50 percent off select stock. Shoppers will find 15 percent off at the Soap Shack Baby in Lakeport.
In some instances, the deals have already begun. Campos Casuals decided to give “Black Friday week” a try and began listing discounts on Monday. Owner Ron Campos has been hard at work preparing for the sales. In the last three weeks, he’s received over 150 cases of items, including overruns from stores like Macy’s and Buckle. Clothing found at the chain retailers will be at Campos Causals, often for half the original price. Campos also matches the price of items found online, if he carries them in the store.
“Even though we’re a tourist town, we cater to people who live in Lake County,” Campos said.
However, because American Express is the official entity behind Small Business Saturday — sharing perks with card owners — it left some unsure if they’re able to participate. The Bunk House in Middletown is a small store, and it’s disadvantageous for them to accept American Express cards, according to owner Peggy Clevenger. Her doors are open each year during the Saturday event, but last year when she decided to take the card for one day only, on top of the discounts she offered, the costs weren’t worth it.
As a result, Clevenger is still undecided as to whether she’ll be participating this year. She may offer special deals and discounts while not accepting American Express, or inversely, she may only take the card without offering any additional deals.
While Clevenger is enthusiastic about Small Business Saturday and encouraging the community to shop small, she’d prefer if the event were more inclusive. “Because the other cards don’t do the Small Business Saturday, it’s not really fair that way,” she said. “I just wish small business Saturday was for everybody, I would love that.”
Lisa’s Clothing Sizes 3-60 is another Lake County Store that doesn’t accept the pricier American Express cards. Though it hasn’t stopped owner Lisa McDonald from offering deals on Small Business Saturday, she won’t be taking the card.
Although many Lake County stores are participating in Small Business Saturday, regardless of American Express, Black Friday is another issue entirely. Clevenger doesn’t participate in the Friday shopping extravaganza and McDonald won’t be open at all today. “I’m a traditionalist,” said Clevenger. “It’s really kid of insane. I really don’t feel like muddling around in that mess.”
McDonald agreed that Black Friday is an opportunity for shoppers to get excited about deals at the larger stores. “I don’t think that it’s [Small Business Saturday] as chaotic,” she said. “All the big places do all their stuff on Black Friday.”
Campos Casuals, on the other hand, doesn’t make a distinction between the two days. They’re expecting a large turnout both today and tomorrow. “We just love the idea that you have two days in a row that you’re going to be promoting business, period,” Campos said. “We hope to have the best Small Business Saturday that we’ve ever had.”
The shopping event isn’t known on a wide-scale like Black Friday or Cyber Monday, but in the last five years, more and more people seem to be increasingly aware of Small Business Saturday. Tiffany Meek, owner of the Soap Shack Baby, said the store has participated in events in previous years, and they’ve always done well. “We see more people coming in. We’re open on Black Friday too but we do better on Saturday,” she said. “I think most people are going to the big box stores, but on Saturday they tend to shop local.”
American Express claims that 88 million Americans participated nationwide last year.
While some may still be unaware of the event, in previous years many stores have seen at least a few people stopping through on Saturday to check out the deals. The shoppers’ business may not be a huge boost in revenue, but the store owners like to keep their doors open anyway. “It’s not really that big a deal for me, but with it being advertised as Small Business Saturday I don’t want to not be open,” McDonald said, explaining that until just a week ago, she hadn’t intended to participate in the event. “There may be people that do come because of that reason.”
And people who shop local should be encouraged and rewarded when they do, Clevenger said. It’s why she hopes in the future Small Business Saturday might grow to include other companies aside from American Express. “The people should get something out of it, too,” she added. “That’s what it’s all about. They’re taking time to come and shop the small shops, and that’s important.”
As events like Small Business Saturday continue to grow, the more local business will thrive. And in a time where the vast majority of new businesses fail, it’s important to shop small. “I just encourage people to support the local business, they’re few and far between anymore,” McDonald said. “The small businesses care about the customer, you’re not just another number, and without them we don’t survive.”
