46 stores participating in this year’s event
On Nov. 27, 2010, merchants in Roslindale Village, Massachusetts — a Boston suburb — promoted “Small Business Saturday” to counter Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
American Express and the National Trust for Historic Preservation sponsored the event.
And then, American Express turned it into a national movement.
In 2013, the Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce began promoting it in Owensboro. And it’s continued to grow every year, Candance Brake, the chamber’s president and chief executive officer, said last week.
Forty-six stores have already signed up for the big shopping day on Saturday.
Last year, the chamber began calling it “Shop Owensboro Saturday.”
And people did just that.
“Last year was so outstanding,” Brake said. “Businesses and shoppers both were excited. We heard phenomenal sales reports.”
She said, “It built awareness of businesses. People need to be reminded to keep their money in Owensboro. It just felt more like a movement last year.”
Brake said the day helps businesses build both customer bases and relationships with other businesses.
“We have a sense of community here,” she said.
“Businesses are very excited,” Jessica Kirk, the chamber’s programs and events manager, said last week. “Several reported record sales days last year.”
New businesses have “jumped on board this year,” she said. “We have several downtown, in Wesleyan Park Plaza and on Kentucky 54 that are in clusters.”
Businesses have to belong to the chamber to participate, Kirk said.
But this year’s lineup is about double the number of stores that participated last year, she said.
Jessica McKinley, a partner in Blossoms Apparel & Gifts, 801 Frederica St., with her mother, Vicki Mills, says that store has participated in the event every year since it began.
“Last year was the biggest so far,” she said. “I’d say our business was up 10 fold over a normal Saturday. The chamber’s initiative has really helped.”
McKinley said Shop Owensboro Saturday “brings in people who don’t usually shop with us. Everything in the store is discounted and we have giveaways and food and drinks. It’s really a neat way to kick off the season.”
Independence Bank sponsors the event.
The main office at 2425 Frederica St. and the Kentucky 54 branch will both be giving away free Shop Owensboro bags from 9 to 10 a.m. Saturday.
The bank says the 9 to 10 a.m. kick-off is “an open house format where shoppers can pop-in to pick up their shopping bags, win door prizes and fuel up on Starbucks coffee. Maps with participating stores are included in the shopping bags, along with coupons, special offers and hours of operation.”
SHOP OWENSBORO
Participating businesses:
1. Kuntry Kutter
2. Balance 54
3. Byron & Barclay
4. The Pink Poppy Boutique
5. Bella Ragazza Boutique
6. Studio Slant
7. Blossoms Apparel & Gifts
8. Boutique 54
9. Excursions, Inc.
10. Studio 105 Art & Frame Gallery
11. The Bakers Rack
12. The Earle
13. Lance & Co. Jewelers
14. Patti’s Resale
15. Kidstop Children’s Boutique
16. En Vogue
17. Crazy Me Gifts & Apparel
18. The Crowne
19. Cotton Cottage
20. The Scrub Shoppe
21. Trunnell’s Farm Market
22. Robin’s Resale & Boutique
23. Peacocks and Pearls Boutique
24. Party Paper Place
25. Trison’s Gifts
26. Embellish
27. Shoe Stop
28. Nick T. Arnold Jewelers
29. Simply Chic Home Accents
30. J’s Liquor and Cheese Shop
31. Preservation Station
32. Lil Bit Sassy Children’s Boutique
33. Legends Team Sports
34. Pure Barre
35. Single Thread Boutique
36. Gene’s Health Food, Inc.
37. Tom Blue Furniture
38. Bushay’s
40. Epoch Revival
41. David P. Taylor Antiques
42. The Willow Tree
43. The Red Door Boutique
44. Starbucks
45. The Sturdy Hinge
46. Black-Eyed Susan’s
By Keith Lawrence Messenger-Inquirer