(KOAM) – You’ve probably already seen the ads, encouraging shoppers to come out for sales at all the biggest retailers this Black Friday.
But this year small businesses encouraged shoppers to come out for Pink Friday instead.
One store participating is the Embellish Boutique in Pittsburg.
“It’s just once again an opportunity to kind of give us our own, like, holiday day rather than like Black Friday,” says Abby Lallmandy, owner of Embellish Boutique. “We are doing Pink Friday and it just gives everybody a chance to come out, support local and get out there before hitting the big box stores and doing all that fun stuff.”
Pink Friday encourages shoppers to shop local this holiday season
Small businesses all across the country are participating, hoping to showcase the importance of shopping local this holiday season.
Miss Daisy’s Home and Decor Co. has been participating in Pink Friday for several years now, but put in even more effort this year.
“I just think it’s important to get people focused on all the local businesses because we have some amazing local businesses in the surrounding area, has,” says Christy Caddy, owner of Miss Daisy’s Home and Decor Co. “I think it’s just helping one another, like helping your neighbor with when you shop with us, we put that money back into our economy. Either me or my employees.”
According to U.S. Census Date, small businesses with nine or fewer employees make up nearly 80% of businesses in Missouri.
In Kansas that number is 71%, showing that small businesses are a vital part of the economy.
“I don’t know that people realize how big of an economic boost we are, like small businesses are to our economy. But I want to say it’s like 68% of the money that goes to a small business stays in a local community,” says Caddy.
That’s a sentiment Lallmandy shares.
“We help pay the taxes. We’re here for your kids. I mean, we do pop ups and we do every little fundraiser that we can to help be involved in our community because we live in the community as well,” says Lallmandy.
So seeing the community come out to support them on days like Pink Friday is all the more meaningful.
“We’ve made lots of friendships. And that’s another thing too, is, you know, we’re more than just a store,” says Caddy. “We’re a community and a place to come to.”
While many stores are celebrating just Pink Friday with one day sales and specials, others are beginning to expand their sales into the weekend to increase business.
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