Downtown Chambersburg ready for Small Business Saturday
Nov 23, 2012 (Menafn - Public Opinion - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) --Kim Smith opened Route 5 Fine Gifts an hour early on Friday for shoppers looking for a local bargain and customers were waiting for the doors to open. "There were people waiting when we got here, which is good," said Smith, who's looking forward to a busy holiday season. "We opened at nine which is earlier than we normally do. We figured we'd let everyone have their breakfast and then come out. It's what we usually do."
Route 5 had door prizes on Black Friday for up to 50 percent off items and was also offering a free gift with purchase.
Route 5 is telling its female customers to create Wish Lists for their Men's Night, from 4 to 8 p.m. Dec. 13. The store keeps track of Wish Lists for customers.
Tuscarora Winery will also be at the store with samples that night.
"We strongly encourage all the ladies to fill out a wish list because it makes it a lot easier for the guys when they come in," said Smith. "We have it in the computer so that we can print out the wish list, go right to the products and the guys can get in and get out quickly."
Smith was one of several Chambersburg shop owners looking forward to Small Business Saturday today.
"Small Business Saturday is going to be very good," said Gartenberg Jewelry owner Andy Gartenberg. "We're looking forward to it. I think, like Cyber Monday, it's going to continue to grow. For us, it's probably going to turn out to be the best day of the year.
"Business is still very good. People still like the shopping
experience of buying from an owner."
Ludwigs Jewelers are having a 20 percent off sale Saturday and offering up home-made cookies.
"I think tomorrow it'll be even more," said Ann Wagner, co-owner of Ludwigs Jewelers. "I've had a lot of people talking about the Small Business Saturday, not only with the local promotion of it, but also with American Express' national promotion of it.
"It's very nice they've started this because the small businesses are locally owned and by supporting those small business, in effect, you're supporting the economy of the community." Smith said holiday business started to pick up at Route 5 earlier in the week. Gartenberg and Wagner reported steady business Friday, which will only increase as temperatures start to dip.
Potomac Bead Company had Black Friday specials advertised on the sidewalk -- 30 percent off in the store, 50 percent off pre-made jewelry and 5 classes sign-ups.
For Small Business Saturday, manager Meghan Reed said they had additional plans. Downtown businesses are also advertising the Nov. 30 event to kick off the branding campaign 11/30 Crossroads of the Country.
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Brian Hall can be reached at 262-4811 and bkhall@publicopinionnews.com, or follow him on Twitter @bkhallpo.
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