Small business Saturday to help businesses during COVID-19 pandemic
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
The District Downtown Columbia said supporting small businesses on Shop Small Businesses Saturday is even more important this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Some stores downtown were still offering Black Friday deals on Saturday.
The Executive Director of The District, Nickie Davis, said small businesses need the community's support right now in order to help recover from the pandemic's economic impacts.
"Small Business Saturday is incredibly important every year, but particularly this year to let our small businesses that have been struggling so hard know that their customers are still out there," she said
Davis said, to keep people safe this year, shopping is available in-person, online, and over the phone.
"People are being respectful, businesses are monitoring and making sure people are being as safe as they can while supporting the businesses and it is sounding like it has been fantastic," she said.
The co-owner of Renew in downtown Columbia, Marti Waigandt, said small businesses need the community's help right now.
"I think everybody if you talk to them are struggling a little bit, it's universal for everybody that we are all having a tough time so it's great when people come out and shop local, we love it," she said.
Carrie Tergin, The Mayor of Jefferson City and the owner of Carrie's Hallmark Shop, said shoppers in Jefferson City all worked together to stay safe, while supporting local businesses.
"As a store owner myself, we have been very pleased that people have been very respectful of each other, spreading out and keeping distanced, that's been very important," she said.
Davis said it's not just about supporting businesses Saturday but remembering to support them throughout the holiday season.
"The holiday season is a big one for our businesses to get them through those winter months, those are going to be the hardest months for our businesses," she said.
The District is asking people to stagger shopping times to limit the number of crowds in a store at one time.
