Snow doesn’t ruin big day for small businesses

Despite predictions of heavy snow and hazardous conditions on Saturday, crowds of people visited downtown Port Washington shops on Saturday, Nov. 29.

It was Small Business Saturday, a day dedicated nationally to supporting the small shops that are the backbone of communities across the country, and in Port that day was marked by the annual Shop Hop event organized  by retailers.

“I think people were getting out early before the weather got bad,” Amanda Scholz, owner of the Purple Turtle and an organizer of the Shop Hop, said Monday. “My sense is it was a little more local this year, that the reach wasn’t from as far away as usual. 

“But even though there were fewer people, for me it was a very good day. Everyone I’ve talked to had a very good day as well.”

To make up for the poor weather and daunting snow predictions, she said, a number of shop owners extended their Small Business Saturday specials through Monday.

“It’s a short shopping season this year,” Scholz said, noting there are only three weekends left to shop. “We want to encourage people to get out and shop — and especially to shop local.”

Kelly Brown, owner of Locally Inspired, said the Shop Hop has become a tradition for families, much as Black Friday shopping the day after Thanksgiving has been a tradition for people for generations.

“I think people come out to it each year,” Brown said.

Given the weather reports this year, “it was a little nerve-wracking going into the day,” Brown said. “I was very pleased with the turnout. 

“I’m glad we stuck with it. People definitely came out in the morning. There was a pretty good crowd.”

She said there was a line of people outside that formed right before she opened the doors, and the store went through its inventory of swag bags within the first 90 minutes. That’s a little longer than usual, Brown said.

Saturday afternoon, when the bulk of the snow was expected to hit, was slower than usual, she said, but some people came out on Sunday and on Friday it was also busy.

“It kind of evened out,” Brown said. 

It helps, she said, that downtown shops are close to one another, allowing shoppers to map out a route and go from store to store, picking up their holiday gifts as they went along.

Tom Sharbuno of Sharbuno Jewelers said the weekend was good, with people coming in to create wish lists, couples looking for engagement rings and people looking for gifts.

“Friday was just nuts. Saturday was a good day as well,” he said. “The snow did affect it.”

But, he said, the Shop Hop event helps downtown retailers.

“This, by far, for all retailers is the busiest time of year. And this helps get people out,” Sharbuno said. “Getting foot traffic downtown never hurts.”

Brown, too, said this is an important time of year for small businesses.

“It’s been our kickoff to the season for years,” she said. “That day alone does make up 15% of holiday sales — it’s a big kick-off day.”

It’s also traditionally been her biggest sales day of the year, Brown said, “and it still was (even with the weather).”

Small Business Saturday and the entire holiday weekend is extremely important for downtown businesses, she said.

“I do think people try to support the whole weekend,” Brown said. “I’m very grateful people came out.”

Scholz concurred, saying, “I’m so grateful and thankful for the community that keeps showing up to support our arts and creative people in the community and in our businesses.”