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Small businesses hope you’ll shop local this weekend

Posted at 9:51 AM, Nov 23, 2018
and last updated 2018-11-23 19:59:37-05

NORFOLK, Va. - Locally-owned businesses are hoping you'll shop small during this busy holiday season.

Small Business Saturday is the established marker between Black Friday and Cyber Monday during one of the busiest shopping times of the year. It started gaining ground in 2010 by American Express encouraging shoppers to help locally-owned businesses.

Downtown Norfolk Council is hoping folks will consider patronizing shops in the downtown area. They're hosting a "Shop Small Welcome Station" from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Selden Market.

Andrea Williams just opened her "pop-up" shop inside Selden Market. She says her business Handsome & Humble was borne out of her own frustrations gift shopping.

"I was tired of going to the mall and getting gift cards for my significant other and I wanted to create an experience for women, men, whoever, the men in their lives already made gifts they would enjoy," Williams told News 3 anchor Todd Corillo on Friday.

As she gears up for her first holiday shopping season, Williams is hopeful many people will support small businesses.

"We put our heart and soul into being a small business. It’s easy to go to the mall and create an experience in the mall but a small business puts their heart, sweat equity, a whole bunch of love into their product," she explained.

According to Independent We Stand, every $100 spent at locally owned businesses, $68 stays in the community, compared to $43 at a national brand.