Area merchants join Small Business Saturday

Local businesses took part in Small Business Saturday, a tradition spreading across the country, annually following Black Friday's focus on large retail shopping.

Brambleberry in Ewen, which sells crafting items, fabrics and offers professional quilting, had a couple other vendors to add to their small business spirit.

Deana Voigt, of Bruce Crossing, who was selling Tastefully Simple, said they had many customers come in throughout the day.

Nancy Byrne, of Ewen, was making and selling handmade Christmas stockings.

Brambleberry was one local business signed up for this year's event. Small Business Saturday 2013 had over 1,450 local businesses across the country signed up with American Express.

Founded in 2010 and known as the Black Friday of mom-and-pop shops, Small Business Saturday was started as a promotion by the American Express company and is celebrated the Saturday after Thanksgiving each year.

"Small Business Saturday is a day to shop at the local businesses in your neighborhood that are always there for you," American Express said.

The day became nationally official in 2011, gaining approval from state governors and even President Barack Obama.

This year, President Obama and daughters Malia and Sasha took part, shopping at local bookstore, Politics and Prose, in Washington, D.C.

The National Retail Federation said small businesses represent 54 percent of all sales in the United States and the sector is rapidly growing.

According to Business Insider, customers spent over $5.7 million last year during the ever-growing shopping day.

For more about Small Business Saturday, visit americanexpress.com/us/small-business/shop-small/.