Local stores hope to cash in on Small Business Saturday

CREATED Nov. 24, 2012

  • Print

  • While customers packed the big box stores as early as Thanksgiving night and throughout Black Friday, Tucson's small businesses hoped to get their piece of the pie today and benefit from the start of the holiday shopping frenzy. Video by kgun9.com

    video

Reporter: Justin Schecker

Tucson (KGUN9-TV) While customers packed the big box stores as early as Thanksgiving night and throughout Black Friday, Tucson's small businesses hoped to get their piece of the pie today and benefit from the start of the holiday shopping frenzy. 

Lynne Loranger opened Lil' Traders almost seven years ago to help give pregnant mothers a break. Today, she offered the deal of $5 off for a $25 purchase.  
 
"One of the things that I found important was offering mothers inexpensive ways to clothe their children and go through the maternity process," Loranger told 9 On Your Side. 
 
But on this Small Business Saturday, soon to be father Nick Vlieg also decided to shop locally and buy a baby carrier at Lil' Traders.
 
"When its possible and when they have what we need, we like to choose something like this over other options," Vlieg said.  
 
Former small business owners Congressman Ron Barber and his wife Nancy stopped in to buy winter jackets for their grandchildren to take with them to the inauguration in Washington D.C. 
 
"Here locally everyone can play a part in allowing this engine of our economy to come back roaring and that's by shopping in small business," Barber said. 
 
After taking her daughters shopping at Lil' Traders, Stella Jaymes brought them to Bookmans, another local business a few doors down. 
 
"We kind of teach them you can go into the department store and buy the same thing and pay 20 dollars for the pair of jeans or you can come to the resale store and buy it for a lot less and buy a lot more clothes," Jaymes said. 
 
Her daughter said she's buying a gift for her younger sister.
 
"My little sister wants a barbie, so I think I'm going to get her a fancy one and I'd love to see her on Christmas with a big smile on her face," she said.
 
Loranger tells 9 On Your Side another benefit of shopping local is it enables business owners to continue supporting other local companies in the community.