Small Business Saturday may have been nearly a month ago, but business owners and organizers say the positive effects are still being felt.
Brianne Martin of Freshwater Design Co. was on the planning committee for the event, as was a representative from nearly every participating business. She said the event doubled or tripled their expectations.
“It’s amazing to know there are people in the community that want to support small business,” Martin said.
Freshwater Design Co. was one of eight local businesses in Downtown Augusta that partnered with Augusta and Co. to encourage shopping small on Nov. 27.
MORE: Business Column: Small Business Saturday a Success
The other businesses were Augusta Candle Co., Funhouse, Bee’s Knees Coffee & Curios, Field Botanicals + Land of Thee, Grantski Records, Book Tavern + Mod Ink and Art on Broad.
Art on Broad was undergoing a full relocation leading up to the event, and the staff there was happy to have gotten it together in time to participate.
Christmas is their busiest time of year, and co-owner Kristin Varn said it should be.
“We better be busy this time of year,” she said.
Varn said that with one more week of “hardcore framing” and completing projects that were promised to be ready by Christmas, things should start to finally settle down.
The new building at 1016 Broad St. is just four storefronts down from the store’s former location, but the extra space has been a weight lifted off the owners’ collective shoulders.
“We are very happy with the extra 1,000 square feet,” Varn said.
There were always more art pieces and products that couldn’t fit on the floor, and there finally is a little extra elbow room and shelf space now.
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The new location was freshly open for Small Business Saturday, and Varn said shoppers made sure to find them.
“I think people really do want to support local even if it means a little extra effort,” she said. “We are thrilled to be here.”
Sarah Childers, director of community engagement for Destination Augusta, said Small Business Saturday’s success was a great proof of concept.
MORE: Business Column: Making Augusta a destination
Every customer that made a purchase at a participating business that day received a raffle entry for a grand prize basket with gifts from all the businesses. Childers said more than 900 tickets were collected, meaning nearly 1,000 customers made a purchase on Small Business Saturday.
The headquarters of the event, Augusta and Co. had its best sales day since the store opened in March 2019.
Childers said the staff was worried about being left hanging with the tote bags they ordered to pass out to visiting customers. All 200 bags were gone in the first 45 minutes.
“It’s a testament that if people and these businesses buy in and work together, the rising tide really does raise all boats,” Childers said.
Tyler Strong is the Business Editor for The Augusta Press. Reach him at tyler@theaugustapress.com
