GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Small business Saturday brought people out to local shops all over Northeast Wisconsin. It’s an important day for businesses locally owned. People shopped for their holiday gifts from that little shop down the street.
“Just makes it extra special,” said Megan Treml, owner of Besselli a store in Green Bay.
Supporting the ‘mom and pops’ while also cashing in on deals.
“Small business Saturday is so important because it really supports all the local businesses, and a lot of the businesses on this street are family owned,” said Treml. “Some are new, some are old, but it’s getting people in the doors that really make our businesses successful.”
Treml said shopping local is gaining traction.
“I feel like each year it’s really taking off. People are getting the idea behind it,” she said.
According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, a small business is one with less than 500 employees.
99.4% of Wisconsin Businesses are considered small, and they employ 1.2 million people in the state.
While the number of small businesses is growing, the survival rate is low; 4 out of 5 of them last more than a year, only about half survive five years and 1/3 of them survive 10 years or more.
Some businesses cash in on Small Business Saturday by catering to those with specialized hobbies.
The Manitowoc Historical society did just that.
“We are also opening up our museum door to get local history gifts,”said the The Manitowoc Historical Society Museum’s executive director, Amy Meyer. “Really embrace the holiday season and kick it off thinking about local history.”
Barrel 41 in Neenah celebrated their grand opening.
“What better day to open than small business Saturday,” said co-owner Matt Stubbing.
