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CAPE FEAR MEMORIAL BRIDGE CLOSURE: UPDATES, RESOURCES, AND CONTEXT

Local businesses promote Small Business Saturday

Old Books on Front Street in downtown Wilmington
Old Books on Front Street in downtown Wilmington

It’s official:  the holidays are on.  And with that comes a weekend full of themed shopping days like Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

As WHQR’s Sara Wood reports, there’s also a special day set aside to show some love to local business owners.

Small Business Saturday is not new this year, and it’s actually an American Express campaign.  But many home-grown shops in Wilmington say they use the marketing momentum to raise the shop local awareness during the holidays.

Matt Keen, owner of Gravity Records, says vinyl sales are actually up about 50 percent from last year.

“I think the last two or three years I’ve seen a much bigger sort of movement here in Wilmington to promote small business and people trying to spend their money with small business, and you can’t always do it. But if you can do the bulk of your shopping with smaller companies, it really does make a difference.”

While holiday shoppers hit Black Friday sales at big box retailers today, consumers are encouraged to shop local tomorrow.  

Old Books on Front Street owner Gwenyfar Rohler says it’s one step in raising awareness to help keep money in the community.

“The real and only reason that our doors are still open is that we are a business that this community has embraced.  And that people choose, choose to come see us and order a book through us.”