Black Friday Down, Small Business Saturday To Go
BALTIMORE (WJZ) ―The shopping season is on, and retailers are getting more aggressive than ever. Holiday sales kicked off before the turkey was on the table, and a whole new round of deals is about to drop.
Kelly McPherson has reaction from Black Friday and a look ahead to Small Business Saturday.
First Black Friday and then Cyber Monday. Now another day is getting a name too in hopes of getting you to buy more—Small Business Saturday.
Lots of bags-- filled with Black Friday sales-- are coming home with shoppers.
"When you start seeing the spring clothing come in, you start to see 50 percent off, 60 percent off, 70 percent off. Then it makes you wonder, 'Well, how much was I really paying when I was buying it at full price?' " said shopper Jonathan Beatty.
The main attractions are typically large malls and chains with door busters and midnight openings.
This year, something different: American Express is giving card members money back if they make a purchase at a local store on Small Business Saturday.
Ron George's jewelry store in Severna Park has seen an increase in business over last year, but it's not easy being a Maryland small business owner.
"You know when you buy locally, that money stays local," George said. "In other words, that's money that goes, whether it's to my employees or whether we use it for it's going to be spent here."
This year, there's a nationwide nod to small businesses on the weekend known as the unofficial kick-off to holiday shopping-- in hopes of helping out the little guy.
"And then you have internet and big box stores," George said. "And it seems like governments want to help the bigger chains and the big shopping centers."
Big or small, retailers are sensing that Marylanders are opening their wallets more often this year.
"Last year, we had a great Black Friday, and we actually exceeded it this year," said Charles Crerand, Towson Town Center general manager. "Reports from what we saw in the mall and the retailers and the department stores is that crowds started much earlier this year."
Towson Town Center estimates that sales were up about 10 percent THIS Black Friday over last year. The bulk of shoppers were there during the first three hours of the mall's opening.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
