AUSTIN, Texas — With Black Friday being a massive day for online and in-store purchases at big-box stores, it’s the day after that local businesses look forward to.
The Saturday after Thanksgiving is known as Small Business Saturday, a day dedicated to supporting small, local businesses. American Express started it 15 years ago after the 2009 recession.
Shoppers took advantage of the nice weather on Saturday to check out the North Loop Pop-Up Market. It is a collection of about 45 small businesses that occurs once a month.
“So it’s just a nice little community of good small shops that when you go to it, you’re going to get something thoughtful and curated,” Rob Kuzmicki, who organizes it, said.
Kuzmicki is a small business owner who runs Lonesome Wolf Vintage, which sells vintage clothing, jewelry, artwork and collectibles. He said days like Saturday help small businesses survive in a world dominated by big business and online shopping.
“I feel like we’re all doing about maybe a half of what we used to do,” he said. “It’s an important time for small shops, where a lot of us aren’t going to make it. So supporting small shops, especially at this time, is so important.”
Times are tough for small businesses right now, and many are still trying to get back on their feet and recover from the effects of the pandemic.
“It goes in waves,” David Burke, owner of The Surprise Box, one of the businesses at the pop-up market, said. “We were at a quiet point in the late summer and fall, but the holidays are here. It’s a beautiful day. We’re seeing things pick it up.”
Burke and his wife started the small business selling what he described as “silly, fun, vintage stuff that makes us smile” in 2020 after a 35-year career in retail management. He said the day is a time for them to connect with new and familiar customers and find new ways to serve them.
“You just keep plugging along,” Burke said. “That’s what keeps us going. It’s fun. The people are awesome. We sell fun things that make you smile, so people come in and smile.”
The annual event helps small business owners within Austin and across the country thrive and continue working.
“It’s a little nerve-wracking because you’re kind of counting on it, and if today was pouring rain, or there’s something huge going on in town that’s going to draw people’s attention away, it can be a big disappointment,” Burke said. “You don’t want to expect things that will come your way. We will do everything we can and then keep our fingers crossed – a lot of fingers crossing in this business.”
Small businesses help create jobs and improve the economy of the community they are within. According to the Small Business Administration, small businesses generated 13 million jobs over the past 25 years. They account for two out of every three new jobs added to the economy.
“It’s the backbone of everything,” Kuzmicki said.
According to American Express, in 2023, U.S. consumers spent an estimated $17 billion at small businesses on Small Business Saturday. Since its inception in 2010, the total reported U.S. spending on this day has reached $201 billion.
“In situations like this, it makes a huge difference. There are days where one or two purchases can make the difference between paying bills and things like that,” Kuzmicki said. “These small shops put everything on the line to go out there and provide a service for the public.”
The North Loop Pop-Up Market takes place once a month. The next market is slated for Dec. 14.