Savannah’s downtown businesses are offering holiday shoppers more than just free parking and a jolly old Santa this weekend — though there will be both.
The first Saturday after Thanksgiving, dubbed Small Business Saturday, encourages shoppers to escape the mall madness and support smaller shops.
To entice shoppers downtown, the city is offering free and discounted parking all weekend. Metered parking will not be enforced today, and the first three hours at city parking garages will be free.
Locally owned businesses on Tybee Island also are offering enticements to shoppers drawn to them by Small Business Saturday.
The small business promotion began three years ago as a campaign by financial giant American Express to encourage people to shop locally and support smaller brick-and-mortar establishments.
Chris Blaker, a clerk at The Book Lady Bookstore on Liberty Street, said Black Fridays have been slower for them, but more and more people know about Small Business Saturday.
“We were pretty busy last Small Business Saturday, and we hope to be this year,” Blaker said. He said the shop would be offering 10 percent discounts on gift cards the entire weekend.
Ruel Joyner, owner of Broughton Street furniture store 24e and president of the Savannah Downtown Business Association, said his shop will have its own Santa Claus entertaining shoppers. He believes there are more reasons to shop downtown than just a designated shopping holiday.
“Before it’s always been, ‘Hey, go shop local, it’s just the right thing to do. Fifty percent of the money stays local,’” said Joyner. “Downtown has really changed in the last six months to a year. There’s a lot of great shopping downtown that you’re not going to find at the mall.”
Although not as extreme as the national retailers, many of which are opening their doors earlier this holiday season, many downtown businesses are extending their hours to reach more people. Women’s clothing retailer Anthropologie held its grand opening at 6 a.m. today at its location on the corner of Montgomery and West Congress streets.
Laura Brown, store manager of Savannah Bee Company on Broughton Street, said she doesn’t think smaller businesses need to compete on the level of bigger stores.
“People who come to shop downtown, they’re looking for unique gifts. ...A lot of our customers are going to be locals who stay home and eat breakfast. They’re not looking for Nintendos and Wiis and that kind of thing. You can’t even get that down here.”
However, shoppers can still find deals. Savannah Bee will be rolling out a new skincare line, and Brown said she expected to do some giveaways. She added that honey makes the perfect gift because “it never goes bad.”
“OK, fine you went to the mall, you went to the Internet, so now it’s time to pay attention to the third component, which is local,” said Betsy Hoit-Thetford, owner of Books on Bay. The shop, in business for five years, offers vintage tomes.
She said she stays open 365 days of the year, giving out pie on Thanksgiving and eggnog on Christmas. She said businesses such as hers offer a personal touch, especially for those out-of-town visitors staying at hotels downtown.
“We are here every day of the year,” said Hoit-Thetford. “We’re not going to be changing employees constantly. This is our livelihood.”