Shop Small Saturday brought crowds of people out to support local businesses over the weekend.
Local retailer participation in the annual shopping event, sponsored by American Express, was up from last year, with a total of 24 businesses throughout the city participating in the event this year compared to 19 businesses last year.
Meghan Kenney, director of economic development for the Chamber of Commerce, explained that as the event grows and gains momentum more businesses want to participate.
"We have had some more businesses open in downtown in general, which also helps participation," she said.
American Express founded Small Business Saturday in 2010 as a way to help small businesses get more customers through the doors on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, according to the company's website, www.americanexpress.com. The Chamber of Commerce and Main Street Siloam Springs partnered to be local neighborhood champions of the event.
Jamie and Bryan Tims, owners of Luxxe Loft, reported that their clothing boutique, which has been open three months, had its best sales day ever on Saturday.
The Tims said that their store was very busy on both Black Friday and Small Business Saturday. Jamie said the store ran a special sale of 25 percent off everything in the store on both days, and extended the sale to Sunday.
"We are super grateful for all the people that came out and shopped -- not only at our business but all the others too," Bryan said.
Around the corner, Sherry DeVore, owner of Two Gals Junk, also reported that her business had the best sales day ever without selling a large item. DeVore has participated in Small Business Saturday for several years, and said the event has been great for her store. She said that this year her store had a steady stream of people all day long from the time the doors opened until closing time.
"Shop Small Saturday has been really good for me," DeVore said. "People really seem to enjoy it."
The Chamber of Commerce and Main Street Siloam Springs held a drawing for gift cards at local businesses. Customers earned raffle tickets for each purchase they made at a participating business. DeVore said that she had a total of 51 customers fill out raffle tickets, and noted that many customers didn't take time to fill out the tickets.
"It was a lot of fun; a great promotion," DeVore said. "I appreciate all the local people coming out and supporting small businesses."
The Chamber of Commerce and Main Street Siloam Springs held a Muffin Madness event in the Old Post Office to give shoppers a chance to eat something before hitting the stores on Saturday. The event also served as a fundraiser for Main Street Siloam Springs. Customers went from table to table sampling muffins donated by local individuals and businesses, then voted for their favorite by putting a dollar in the jar next to the muffins.
"A lot of people that came in took the voting very seriously," Kenney said. "It was a good, fun event that brought people into the Old Post Office."
She said that some people came in just to get a look at the interior of the Old Post Office, which is slated to become the home of the Siloam Springs Museum in the future.
Sheila Wilmeth, owner of Heavenly Creations home bakery, was the winner of the muffin contest with her pumpkin, apple, caramel muffins, Kenney said.
Kenney said she hopes to continue the Muffin Madness event in the future. She also said that she was really excited that the Chamber of Commerce and Main Street Siloam Springs partnered really well as neighborhood champions of Shop Small Saturday.
"It was great to help businesses downtown and around Siloam Springs," she said.
General News on 11/30/2016