Shop Local on Saturday
[gtxvideo vid=”3SUv3ZEa” playlist=”” pid=”rkijshg2″ thumb=”http://player.gtxcel.com/thumbs/3SUv3ZEa.jpg” vtitle=”small business saturday”]
Columbia, S.C. (WOLO) — Step into any locally owned business and you might not find the holiday’s hottest item. But what you will find is unique specialty items with a personal touch. “I know a lot of my customers, they know me I know about their families. My customers are very important to me,” says Martha Studstll, owner of Uptown Gifts on Main Street. Don McCallister, Co-owner of Loose Lucy’s tells ABC Columbia, “We are about the people we engage with. We don’t want to just take their money and give them something. We want to have a different kind of energetic exchange with our customers.” It’s these customers that keep local businesses afloat in a sea of nationwide retailers. “It takes a lot of guts to be a small business ownership,” explains McCallister. This Saturday shoppers are encouraged to buy local as American Express’ Small Business Saturday highlight’s the benefits of shopping homegrown retailers. According to Studstill,”There are a lot of statistics about how much more more dollars spent stays in the area it’s about 65% versus 35% in a big store versus 0 if it’s online. So it’s very important to the local economy.” Store owners say the area’s economy could definitely use a boost in light of the recent floods. “We have seen that overall business has been impacted by this natural disaster that hit our town,” says McCallister. Studstill also recognizes the impact of October’s floods, “People not working, people’s homes being damaged all of that’s taken some money out of the economy and that discretionary income.” So whether browsing or buying for everyone on your list take a shot at shopping local. Just a few of the many locations participating in Small Business Saturday include: – Loose Lucy’s – Uptown Gifts – WISH Boutique – 2G’s Clothing – Bohemian – Good for the Sole Shoes – Pawley’s Front Porch -Tic Toc Candy Shop – Wildflower Boutique -Revente – Vestique Columbia – Hip*Wa*Zee
