BUSINESS OWNERS SAY THEY ARE GRATEFUL. I DECIDED THAT MY NEW YEARS RESOLUTION IS TO STOP DOING ON AMAZON. Holiday shoppers making their way through the ECLECTIC stores CARNEGIE MUST OFFER. I WANT TO SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESSES. I LOVE THE PAINTINGS HERE. THEY ARE ALL LOCAL, LOCAL ARTISTS, AND THERE’S THIS PAINTING THAT I’VE LOVED FOR YEARS THAT I NEED TO COME BACK AND GET FOR BLACK FRIDAY. FOR JENIFER VELEZ, IT IS TO BUY THAT PAINTING A LITTLE EARLY FOR HER BIRTHDAY. AND FOR MEGAN DERRICK, IT’S EXPLORING THE NEWEST BOOKSTORE AND CHECKING OUT SOME ANTIQUES FOR CHRISTMAS GIFTS. THE MONEY WILL SUPPORT THE LOCAL COMMUNITY, AND THEN BUSINESS OWNERS ARE PUTTING MORE OF THIS MONEY BACK INTO THE COMMUNITY. YOU KNOW, THEY’RE SUPPORTING OTHER THINGS AROUND AND IT’S NOT JUST GOING TO SOME CORPORATIONS. SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS IN CARNEGIE SAY SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY MORE EYES IN THEIR STORE. IT’S A REAL GROWTH. IT’S REALLY BAD TO HAVE PEOPLE COME OUT AND SUPPORT US. IT’S A CHANCE TO, YOU KNOW, MEET SOME OF OUR CUSTOMERS WHERE WE NORMALLY JUST, YOU KNOW, BUY ONLINE. BUT REALLY, THEY SAY EVERYDAY IS SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY AS THEY WORK TO COMPETE AGAINST THE BIG BOX STORES. WE ARE THE PERSON YOU WANT TO WALK TO and get that personal touch. I KNOW MY PRODUCTS, MY PRODUCTS HAVE STORIES. ANY ONE OF THEM. SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY IS FOLLOWED BY CYBER MONDAY FOR ONLINE BUSINESS. BUSINESS OWNERS HERE SAY THEY CONTINUE TO FIGHT THAT TREND AND STAY OPEN TO SERVE THEIR COMMUNITY. REPO
Local businesses, customers prepare for Small Business Saturday
Carnegie business owners are grateful for the community’s support
The Small Business Administration estimates that Americans spent $17 billion on Small Business Saturday last year. At Carnegie, shoppers are pledging to shop local. “I made my New Year’s resolution to stop shopping on Amazon,” said shopper Megan Derrick. “I love supporting local businesses. I love the paintings here. They’re all local artists. And this is a painting I’ve wanted for years and had to go back and get it for Black Friday,” Jennifer said. Velez as she bought her painting just in time for her birthday. “The money is going to support the local community and then the business owners are giving that money back to the community more. They’re supporting other things here, and they’re not going alone to some corporation,” Derrick said. Small business owners in Carnegie say they are grateful for the support and Small Business Saturday draws more attention to their stores. “It’s a real boost. It’s really nice. People come out and support us. It’s a chance to meet some of our customers where we would normally shop online,” said Blake Anthony, owner of Pittsburgh Pottery. “I have a upcoming author – she’s a local author, a health coach. She’ll be here for a book signing. All proceeds from her sales go to Riley’s Pour House, which recently burned down to be in the morning. Then, in the afternoon, we have an acoustic guitarist here,” said Michael Ploetz, owner of Woolly Bear Books & Gifts. But every day is small business Saturday as they work to compete against the big box stores. “We’re the person you come in and get that personal touch. I know my products. My products have stories, every single one of them. I get them from all over the United States, from all over the world. When brings them, I can tell you about that product. You’re not just buying a piece off the shelf. You have good customer service,” said Bonita Farinelli, owner of Eccentricity Designs Small is followed by Cyber Monday for online shopping Business owners say they will continue to fight these trends to stay open and serve their community.
The Small Business Administration estimates that Americans spent $17 billion on Small Business Saturday last year. At Carnegie, shoppers are pledging to shop local.
“I made my New Year’s resolution to stop shopping on Amazon,” said shopper Megan Derrick.
“I like to support local businesses. I love the paintings here. They are all local artists. And this is a painting that I’ve wanted for years and I had to go back and get it for Black Friday,” said Jennifer Velez as she purchased her painting just in time for her birthday.
“The money will support the local community, and then the business owners are putting that money back into the community more. They’re supporting other things here, and they’re not just going to any corporation,” Derrick said.
Small business owners in Carnegie say they are grateful for the support and Small Business Saturday brings more attention to their stores.
“It’s a real incentive. It’s really nice. People come out and support us. It’s a chance to meet some of our customers where we would normally shop online,” said Blake Anthony, owner of Pittsburgh Pottery.
“I have an author coming in – she’s a local author, a health coach. She will be here in the morning to sign books. All proceeds from its sales go to Riley’s Pour House, which recently burned down. That will be in the morning. Then, in the afternoon, we have an acoustic guitarist here,” said Michael Ploetz, owner of Woolly Bear Books & Gifts.
But every day is Small Business Saturday as they work to compete against the big box stores.
“We’re the person you walk into and get that personal touch. I know my products. My products have stories, each of them. I get them from all over the United States, from all over the world. When I bring them, I can tell you about that product. You’re not just buying a piece of something off the shelf. You have good customer service,” said Bonita Farinelli, owner of Eccentricity Designs.
Small Business Saturday is followed by Cyber Monday for online shopping. Business owners say they will continue to fight these trends to stay open and serve their community.