During a winter storm, members of the Evanston community battled howling winds and freezing temperatures to shop at Evanston’s third annual Small Business Saturday.
Having begun in 2010 as a nationwide movement to support smaller, family-owned stores, this year’s Small Business Saturday featured special deals from 28 participating local businesses in Evanston.
Downtown Evanston also offered a Holiday Shopping Passport where visitors could record purchases made. Those who spent at least $100 were eligible to receive a $20 Evanston E-Gift card. Initially, the passport was intended to operate only on Saturday, but it was extended through 5 p.m. Sunday due to inclement weather.
Artem Pop Up Gallery co-owner Sarita Kamat said she opened the store as a way for artists to have a space to exhibit their work year-round. Sharing ownership of one of the day’s participating businesses, Kamat said events like these are valuable to expose people to her storefront after she was recently forced to downsize.
“I’m so grateful for the day. People make it a point to come and visit local businesses,” Kamat said. “That’s one thing about the Evanston community — they do everything they can to support during these times.”
However, Downtown Evanston director of marketing Laura Brown, one of the event organizers, said she predicted fewer sales this year due to weather conditions.
“In past years, we get about 100 people that turn in passports,” said Brown. “This year, I think we will get fewer, which is why we’ll extend (the passport program) through Sunday.”
Nina Barrett (Medill ’87), founder of Evanston bookstore Bookends & Beginnings, voiced similar concerns about the store’s turnout during the event.
“(Small Business Saturday) has historically been, if not our best business day of the year,” Barrett said. “Clearly the weather outside is frightful and people want to curl up at home, so it’s pretty devastating for that to happen.”
To help visitors get in the holiday spirit, Downtown Evanston also offered a free trolley sponsored by Northwestern’s Office of Neighborhood & Community Relations. The trolley made stops at various shop locations around the Main-Dempster Mile and Downtown Evanston. At each ten-minute stop, an elf led everyone off the bus to explore the stores.
Following Saturday’s locally-owned shopping frenzy, many small businesses will also be participating in the organization’s Warm Bevvy Walk, which will take place Dec. 11.
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