To stream 5NEWS on your phone, you need the 5NEWS app.
Next up in 5
Example video title will go here for this video
Next up in 5
Example video title will go here for this video
ARKANSAS, USA — After a record-breaking Black Friday where U.S. shoppers spent more than $11.8 billion, small businesses across the country are hoping the momentum carries through the weekend.
Adobe Analytics projects Small Business Saturday will see shoppers spend $5.5 billion this year — a reflection of the growing support for local businesses and makers.
In Fayetteville, Fossil Cove Brewing Co. kicked off the holiday season with a festive market celebrating local artisans and small businesses. The event gave local makers the space to showcase and sell their products, with many sharing how important these markets are for their businesses.
“It’s really just us trying to improve the space that they use as much as possible and promoting it. I think that’s our biggest role. For the local vendors, is to just give them the space and to promote them as much as we can, and kind of give them a little leg up,” said Alyssa Shanahan, tasting room manager at Fossil Cove Brewing Co.
Randi Sparks, a local business owner and artist, is one of the many who showcased their work at the event. Sparks, a full-time art teacher, uses events like this to sell her work and connect with the community.
“It’s really hard to have a passion and love to create things, but not be able to find a place to sell it or meet people who are interested in your art as well,” said Sparks.
Small Business Saturday, which began in 2010, was created to celebrate how small businesses contribute to the local economy and community. Shanahan added that the brewery’s mission has always been about creating a welcoming space for locals.
“Our goal here, opening this place up in 2012, was to create a community water hole for everybody,” Shanahan said. “We try to give back to nonprofits, outdoor groups, anyone local, anyone that struggled the same way we did… just to help out our local community is our biggest goal as a company.”
In Fort Smith, the Cocoa Crawl presented by Main Street Fort Smith was another example of the community embracing small businesses.
The Cocoa Crawl is all about supporting local businesses in downtown.
“In Fort Smith, the vast majority of the businesses in downtown are small businesses. A lot of those are family owned businesses. So we really want to put our money here locally. So just want to encourage everyone go spend your money in your local downtowns with your local small businesses,” said Amanda Hager, Executive Director for Main Street Fort Smith.
Due to the weather, the annual tree lighting was cancelled, but hundreds of people took part in the event, enjoying hot chocolate while shopping their way through the city’s downtown area.
“Last year was such a huge success. We’re like, hey, let’s bring it back. Because last year, I polled some businesses, and they said that they had a 70% more foot traffic than they would on a typical Saturday,” said Hager.
Sparks and other local makers agree that the more spaces there are to showcase small businesses, the better it is for the entire community.
“The more places we have like this to support small businesses and local artists, the easier it is for everybody to get connected to cool stuff that they like,” she said.
As the holiday shopping season continues, Adobe Analytics predicts Cyber Monday will bring in 14.2 billion dollars
