Celebrating Local Businesses On Small Business Saturday

ST. CLOUD (WJON News) -- With Black Friday in the rear view mirror, many local businesses are encouraging people to shop local on Saturday. Small Business Saturday was started over 15 years ago as a way to gain exposure for local businesses and for people to support their hometown stores.

Paul Habstritt, WJON

Woods Farmers Seed and Nursery's Morgan Franzwa says Small Business Saturday is more important to them than Black Friday:

"Small Business Saturday is huge for us. It's just one of those things where you're supporting your small businesses and we couldn't do it without our customers and that's one thing dad has always said too is that we want to value our customers' time and money, and all that kind of stuff, and just make it doable for them to come on in here and make that extra trip."

Franzwa says they want to make things memorable for the customers and keep them happy as they leave the store.

Paul Habstritt, WJON

Small Business Saturday is a big lift up for independent stores like Fitzharris Ski Bike and Outdoor, which has been a downtown St. Cloud mainstay for almost three-quarters of a century. Fitzharris Manager Benjamin Walz says it's cool for the spotlight to get shown on small businesses:

"There's so much commercial media and the big box pushing everything, so it means a lot when people actually come in here and spend their time and their hard-earned dollars to support us and the fun that we support and just kind of creating that environment, that circle of fun, so it means a lot to have that upper spotlight."

Walz says often small, local businesses get overshadowed by the big box stores, so having their own day is special. Fitzharris will celebrate its 75th Anniversary in 2027.

Minnesota has about 447,000 small businesses that employ about one point two million people. About 20% of a small business's annual revenue can come from holiday shopping.

Paul Habstritt, WJON

Get our free mobile app

LOOK: States With the Most New Small Businesses Per Capita

To find the top 20 states with the most new small businesses per capita, Simply Business analyzed the Census Bureau’s Business Formation Statistics from August 2020 to July 2021.

Gallery Credit: Eliza Siegel

LOOK: 50 Famous brands that no longer exist

Stacker compiled a list of more than four dozen famous consumer brands that no longer exist, consulting sites such as TheStreet, Good Housekeeping, and Eat This, Not That!, along with numerous throwback sites dedicated to consumer brands.

Gallery Credit: Liz Barrett Foster

LOOK: 20 Outside-the-Box Uses for Vacant Big-Box Stores

When a big-box store shuts down, its closure can significantly affect the local community and its economy. In numerous instances, the emphasis has shifted from traditional retail to more experiential opportunities. Let's explore 20 innovative businesses and services that can make the most of these adaptable spaces.

Gallery Credit: Stephen Lenz