Shoppers Keep It Local On 'Small Business Saturday'
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Managing a local business runs in the family for Angela Lessman.
"I was around it my whole childhood," Lessman said. "I grew up in a store. My parents had a store for consignment for artists in Door County, Wisconsin."
Lessman now co-owns I Like You in northeast Minneapolis. The store has everything from Minnesota-made knick-knacks to hats and stationery.
"We are about 90 percent local and the rest is still independently made," I Like You co-owner Sarah Sweet said. "And to date we've paid out over $2 million to local artists in the area."
Related: Shinola North Hosts Pop-Up Market For Small Business Saturday
Small Business Saturday is one of the store's busiest days of the year, as customers scout neighborhood shops for their holiday shopping.
At One On One Bicycle Studio in Minneapolis' North Loop neighborhood, customers not only get holiday deals on bikes for Small Business Saturday, but they also get to mingle with the owner's "family."
Even the mecca of all big business, Mall of America, is offering up small business flare this year, with a new "Shop Local" pop up shop -- featuring 22 local brands.
Related: Shop Local Pop-Up Comes To MOA Just In Time For Black Friday
"This is such a great idea, I cannot believe they haven't done this before," Jessie McShane, owner of Wool and Whiskey, said. "Shop Local is so amazing and it's great that they're doing it now."
So if you are looking for gifts for loved ones this holiday season, and you want to give back to your community, just take a walk through your neighborhood.
"We'd love for you to come here," McShane said. "We're really proud of the items that we sell."
Small Business Saturday was officially created by American Express in 2010. More than 88 million shoppers spent money at local stores in 2014.
