Business owners across Carroll County are experiencing what could be their busiest weekend of the year, starting with Black Friday and moving into Small Business Saturday.
Historically, the Friday after Thanksgiving, or Black Friday, has marked the beginning of the Christmas shopping season in the United States. Although not recognized by any government agency as Small Business Saturday, it is a decades-old tradition in which businesses promote sales and discounted prices.
Small Business Saturday is a much newer holiday, now popular in almost all cities across the county. Now in its 15th year, it is a nationwide campaign designed to encourage shopping locally and stimulate economic growth in communities across the country. Small Business Saturday was founded by American Express in 2010 and has been co-sponsored by the US Small Business Administration since 2011, according to the SBA website.
Although they may have similar goals, Black Friday and Small Business Saturday have brought different expectations for Carroll business owners, who many say are more affected by one than the other.
Outside the Winchester Exchange building on Main Street in Westminster on Friday afternoon, there were few cars in the nearby parking lot and garage, with only a few customers visible as the snow storms began to fall. Inside, Tiombe Paige, owner of Cultivated boutique, said more customers are expected on Saturday.
“[Black Friday] it was created because businesses went out of the red and into the black, which is absolutely true. “People are now in the mindset of holiday shopping, and so for us, it’s one of our most important weekends,” said Paige.
Paige said Small Business Saturday is geared toward local businesses rather than the larger chains, which makes the day even more rewarding. Cultivated, a boutique, will offer bundle deals along with personalized gift wrapping for the weekend. In addition, Paige said customers are exposed to a unique experience they can’t find online. Shoppers may find they are on a first-name basis with merchants, who are able to provide recommendations based on previous purchases.
On the top floor of the Winchester Exchange building, Keith Forney, owner of Gotham Comics, welcomed Black Friday shoppers with 20% off signs lining the shelves, along with sales on other items that will remain until on sunday.
A former employee of a major retail business, Forney said that while the Black Friday tradition may be fading for larger chains, it’s a day that remains beneficial for his small business.
“For all those retailers, it’s probably not as important as it used to be. For me, I like to stick to that tradition. “Black Friday is the start of the holiday season for me,” Forney said. “It’s a lot busier, a lot more people are in the door. We have a lot more sales than a normal Friday.”
The Mayor of Westminster and the Common Council have taken several steps to promote shopping on Small Business Saturday and throughout the festive season. Along with the city’s Miracle on Main Street event which will feature a tree lighting and visit from Santa Claus on Saturday, the council also announced free Westminster city center parking for the month of December.
Thirty minutes away, downtown Sykesville experienced much more foot traffic in the early afternoon. Sue Donohue, 63, a Sykesville resident, said shopping in person along Main Street, rather than online, provided clarity when considering what gifts to buy and who to buy them for.
“I think articles can speak to me when I see them in person. You know, like it’s meant for someone, instead of me actively trying to think ahead of time,” she said.
Malls across Carroll County will participate in a Shop Small Passport program, which encourages shoppers to obtain signed proof of purchase at eight different businesses while shopping through Dec. 11. These passports can be obtained from participating businesses and once all eight have been purchased, participants can enter their passport at any public library in the county. On Dec. 16, 20 participants will be randomly selected to receive a $50 gift certificate that can be used at any participating business, according to the Town of Hampstead website.
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