Small Business Saturday comes at the beginning of the holiday shopping season.
News4’s Derrick Ward said since its inception five years ago, it has been a time for small businesses to put themselves into the black, and trends seem to point to that happening this year.
"The National Federation of Retailers said this year that over 70 percent of people are going to shop small," said Patricia Washington, president and CEO of the Alexandria Convention and Visitors Association.
That is big news for places like old town Alexandria, hundreds of where hundreds of businesses are participating, and on the eastern shore of the Potomac River in Anacostia, where a burgeoning commercial renaissance is in the making.
Ward said they are stretches of U Street in the Shaw neighborhood that are barely recognizable from several years ago. He said they represent the best of new and existing small businesses co-existing.
A new custom clothing shop on 8th Street and, just around the corner, a tailor that's been at the location may have been considered competition. However, they found a way to work together for their mutual benefit.
"We have worked with them diligently," said Cheryl Lofton, with Lofton and Associates Tailoring. "We actually have altered clothes for them so it's a great combination"
Local
Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia local news, events and information
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser made a stop at Compass Coffee to promote small business Saturday
"Even in a short period of time, where we had no shopping no people living, and now we have both, while keeping the personality of north end Shaw,” the mayor said. “I think it's really cool."
Ward said there's room for innovation, too. A Canadian-conceived business, where people can get a cut and a coat at the same place, is gaining a foothold in the United States with one of three locations landing in D.C.
"We actually beat Chicago's numbers in the first week of opening, so it's really amazing," said Shayne Zaborowski, from Frank & Oak.
This year's Small Business Saturday is expected to generate close to $14 billion in revenue nationwide.
Gov. Larry Hogan issued a statewide proclamation earlier this week announcing Saturday would celebrate small businesses in the state. The day is part of an effort to get residents to support local businesses during the holiday season.
Public and private organizations nationwide are part of the effort, which comes on the Saturday following Thanksgiving.
To celebrate, the governor plans to visit small businesses on Main Street in Annapolis on Saturday.
