March 29, 2024

Shop small, shop local

Local businesses teeming with customers on Black Friday, Shop Small Saturday

Christmas came early for small business owners this year. Although several local retailers enjoyed the benefits of Shop Small Saturday, the heavy traffic of holiday shoppers arrived the day before while families gathered in downtown Newton for the annual courthouse lighting ceremony and other seasonal attractions.

Bonnie Terpstra, owner of The Farmer’s Wife, had her store open from 10 a.m to 8 p.m. the Friday after Thanksgiving. Typically, Black Friday shopping sprees send customers flocking to the big box stores or malls, but for some reason the community was enjoy the spoils of its downtown retailers.

“It was steady to crazy busy all day,” Terpstra said, noting the crowds from the courthouse lighting spilled over into her store. “People came downtown for the event and they shopped and it was just wonderful! But (Shop Small Saturday) is still very vital for retail. Especially with what I do with the home decor and gifts.”

As Terpstra puts it, a store like The Farmer’s Wife could “live or die” by the Christmas season. It’s time to make it or break it. By Saturday morning, Terpstra was still rightfully exhausted from the Friday shopping day. But this was no time for resting. There was business to take care of and customers to tend to.

Several downtown businesses participated in Shop Small Saturday by issuing special deals, discounted items, giveaways or door prizes. Newton Main Street offered “swag bags” for downtown shoppers while the Capitol II Theatre played a free showing of “Elf,” all the while getting folks excited for the Christmas season.

Erin Yeager, executive director of Newton Main Street, told Newton News that shopping small ensures the money customers spend will stay in the community. Browsing local retail shelves also offers customers a unique, hometown experience that can be tough to find anywhere else.

“We have many stores in Newton that have something for everyone,” she said. “When shopping small and local, many of you will be greeted with a ‘Hello’ or by your first name and then asked if there is something they can help you find or with. You won’t get that when you go to a big box store.”

Vicki Wade, owner of Olive ‘et Boutique, said she looks forward to celebrating Shop Small Saturday with her customers. When people shop small they’re not just supporting independent businesses, they’re investing in their community, Wade said; and those businesses also add vibrancy and spirit to their towns.

“…And the dollars you spend here go back into youth sports, area non-profits and local service organizations,” Wade said. “In turn, businesses use this day to celebrate and (say) thank you with in-store specials, refreshments and events like free movie matinees for families.”

Even when customers wanted to get their Christmas shopping done a day before Shop Small Saturday, they still arrived in tow for the big day. Julia Prendergast, owner of Fine Things Reclaimed, remembered this past Black Friday very well. The customers were packing in the downtown Newton shop. It was wall-to-wall.

“There were lots of families in town and people we don’t normally see,” Prendergast said. “They came in from the cold, got warm, looked around and got in the mood for Christmas. I think people really get the whole shop small, shop local. They’re really getting it and they see we have cool stuff you’re not going to see everywhere.”

Contact Christopher Braunschweig at 641-792-3121 ext. 6560 or cbraunschweig@newtondailynews.com

Christopher Braunschweig

Christopher Braunschweig

Christopher Braunschweig has a strong passion for community journalism and covers city council, school board, politics and general news in Newton, Iowa and Jasper County.