Shops on Pratt Street Gear up for Small Business Saturday

HARTFORD, CT (WFSB) – A less talked about holiday is Small Business Saturday, held each year the Saturday after Thanksgiving.

The holiday encourages supporting and shopping local.

There will be a shopping party held Saturday on Pratt Street in Hartford.

All small businesses around the country are reminding folks that shopping local is what keeps a community alive.

“It’s our Super Bowl. Anybody that has a small business, entrepreneur. This is the time when we put on the works and get everyone out here,” said Sarah Fernandez, Manager of Gentle Bull Shop on Pratt Street.

Fernandez can barely hold back her excitement about Small Business Saturday.

Gentle Bull Shop is a unique store with vintage items and other things you won’t find anywhere else, which Fernandez said is the beauty of supporting small and local.

“So that when you are coming here you are getting something that you are not going to walk into Target. You are not going to walk into any type of mall and get. Those everyone is going to walk around and look the same. Here you’re getting one-of-a-kind items. Small items that are near and dear to us that me and the owner like love. Vintage pieces,” Fernandez said.

The Small Business Saturday moniker was formally created by credit card giant American Express back in 2010, but the idea behind it is one that has been around for generations. Supporting the stores and restaurants in the communities we live only helps build the community stronger.

According to research by American Express, 67 cents of every dollar spent in a small business stays in the local community.

For many small businesses, the holiday season is critical. That same research shows 78-percent of small business owners say their holiday sales would likely determine whether they can stay afloat in the coming year.

This Saturday, Pratt Street will have something of a block party with 20 pop up stores as well.

Hernandez said the spirit of supporting local will be on every main street in every town this Saturday.

“It’s so important that you take the time, no matter where you live in Connecticut. Wherever you are just popping into those local stores that you probably wouldn’t normally on Saturday because that is like big. It’s support that we always need to be able to make us be able to do what we do every day,” said Fernandez.

Other ways to support local are buying gift cards to local restaurants.

Read original article here.

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