The impacts of Small Business Saturday on Lowcountry businesses

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) – People around the Lowcountry celebrated Small Business Saturday by kicking off the holiday shopping season downtown.

American Express held a Shop & Stroll on Market Street showcasing different businesses from the area.

Market Street was blocked off Saturday, bringing in locals and tourists to shop at local business pop-ups.

“You know Charleston is not the big city, it’s the small local communities that come together—yes, and it’s so unique here, you’re not going to find this everywhere,” Becky Kirby and Linda Law said.

Hundreds of people grabbed a tote to shop at the eight different pop-ups along the street.

Hart Jewelry is one of the small businesses that was showcased, and the founder says she values the quality of her product.

“We live in a world you know where you can buy something and it’s delivered to your house the next day. You know things can be very convenient and affordable but really at the end of the day, I think what’s super important is to shop small means supporting your local business and your local community. So that means that the dollars stay within your community,” owner and designer Hart Hagerty said.

Although the overall tone of the day was to shop small and local, one storefront owner experienced a different kind of outcome.

Katy Roe, co-owner of Lampshade Library, says when she showed up to work, she was surprised to find a pop-up blocking her storefront on Market Street.

“I felt like a very small person up against a big corporation honestly. I’m very glad that they made the changes they did,” Roe said.

After addressing the issue, it was eventually moved, but she still felt as though many pedestrians were misinformed on where they were allowed to walk.

Roe said even though she knew of the event, she didn’t realize the whole street would be blocked off for the whole day.

She said in comparison to this time last year around the holiday, they made half of the number of sales. As for an average Saturday, they saw about a third of their typical number as well.

“A lack of consulting with the small business on this block. There aren’t that many of us, it wouldn’t have taken much time. But we would’ve had some input, we would’ve felt like we were part of it, we would’ve felt like we mattered,” Roe said.

American Express said in a statement:

“It’s American Express’ priority to help drive even more business to ALL small businesses on Small Business Saturday.

Charleston has such a vibrant small business community and our goal for today’s Shop & Stroll event was to drive business to both the brick & mortar shops on Market Street, alongside even more small businesses from the area.”

This year marks the 15th anniversary of Small Business Saturday after it started up in 2010 to help drive consumer spending at small businesses.

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