Georgia Stores Preparing for Small Business Saturday

Janet Geddis / Avid Bookshop

There’s another option for consumers not interested in hitting the stores on Black Friday.

The fourth annual Small Business Saturday is scheduled for November 30.

“You can get a lot of the same things, often times with a better customer service experience and sometimes some more unique things at your local small business.  And so, that’s what Small Business Saturday is really all about,” says Kyle Jackson, the Georgia Director of the National Federation of Independent Business.

Janet Geddis is the owner of the Avid Bookshop in Athens, GA.

She says so-called mom and pop shops are much more personal.

“We really love having conversations with people, getting to know our customers and so when someone comes into the shop, whether it’s the first time or the 50th time, we treat everyone warmly,” says Geddis.

An audio version of this story.

Surety Bond Girls, a licensing company, opened its doors earlier this year.  This will be the company’s first Small Business Saturday.

“Sometimes you turn around and there’s a door shut in your face, so I think, you know, with the small businesses banding together we can all make this, you know, all work for each other,” says owner Traci O’Sullivan.

According to a study from Redshift Research, Americans spent nearly $6 billion dollars last Small Business Saturday.