Retailers, shoppers tout benefits of Small Business Saturday

Staff writer

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Shoppers looking for deals were in luck Saturday as Portales businesses offered specials on goods as part of Small Business Saturday.

Fatima Montoya, who was in town from Carlsbad visiting relatives, said the Saturday deals at local businesses and the 78-degree weather prompted her to get out and go shopping.

Montoya said she went to stores downtown to gather supplies for making holiday wreaths before heading home today.

“I think it’s awesome,” Montoya said of shopping during Small Business Saturday. “You have to support your local businesses.”

Charlene Bouldin, 72, went shopping with her sister-in-law Saturday in search of holiday gifts.

link Joshua Lucero: Staff photo

Steve Justice, right, browses

Small Business

Saturday sale items Saturday afternoon at Creighton’s Town and Country with the help of Creighton’s retail sales manager Ofelia Jasso. Justice said he went shopping Saturday for good deals on clothing.

Bouldin said her and her sister-in-law got a late start but were making the best of it as they browsed downtown businesses late Saturday afternoon.

Bouldin said she believes Small Business Saturday is fantastic because it gives an extra day of shopping discounts and supports the local economy.

“It (Small Business Saturday) gives everyone a chance to get gifts and get on with Christmas stuff,” Bouldin said.

Roosevelt Rose store owner Kaylynn Bryant said her business saw heavy traffic a few times and remained steady all day.

Bryant, who opened her store in downtown Portales in May, said business had been good and the customer response for Small Business Saturday was positive.

“It (Small Business Saturday) is a great opportunity for local businesses to have specials and not have to compete with the big Black Friday retailers,” Bryant said.

Kelley Hogan, manager and designer at Bargains in downtown Portales, said her store had seen a noticeable increase in traffic Saturday.

Hogan said she had recently updated the downtown store in an effort to organize items for browsing customers during the holiday shopping season.

“(Small Business Saturday) has been going good,” Hogan said. “We’ve seen a lot of traffic today. More than a normal Saturday.”