By Sam Skopp
Small Business Saturday was founded in 2010 and falls on the Saturday in between Black Friday and Cyber Monday as a way of taking advantage of what has become one of the busiest times of the year for commerce such that it benefits small and local business. Businesses all along Montana Avenue in Santa Monica celebrated the occasion by holding what they titled the “Shop Small Sidewalk Sale” offering deals in store and setting up tables along the avenue.
Kreation, for example, offered a wide array of samples of its food and drink to passersby from a table set up just outside the storefront. Ten Women, which is a cooperative gallery that showcases art from 24 local women artists, set up a table selling sweaters and scarves for a discounted price. In coordination with the event, Santa Monica High School set up a table outside of Whole Foods selling baked goods to raise money for students in DECA, a marketing and entrepreneurship program. Meanwhile, businesses like jewelry store Bamboora were simply displaying a flier for the event in their window in solidarity with their neighbors.
Keila Ellis, who manages the clothing store Margaret O’Leary, explained that Small Business Saturday is a unique opportunity for small, boutique businesses like theirs.
“Our store always participates, and our clients tend to shop in boutiques, so they love to come in when we offer a sale because we don’t often have deals,” said Ellis.
She explained that, while they aren’t able to offer regular sales like bigger department stores, customers return for a more personalized shopping experience. Since Small Business Saturday is a coordinated effort between a large number of local businesses, it allows them and neighboring businesses to offer lower prices to their loyal customers who don’t often have the opportunity to shop for discounted items.
For more information about the businesses on Montana Avenue, visit montanaave.com.
