Steady stream of shoppers on Small Business Saturday

MOSES LAKE — A sunny day and a chance at store specials attracted a steady stream of customers to downtown businesses on Small Business Saturday.

People were waiting outside when Sue Torrance opened the door at Sue’s Boutique, she said. (Coming along a few hours later and on their way to a different business, a pair of shoppers paused to look in the Sue's Boutique window. "We might just have to go in there," one remarked.)

“It’s been steady,” Torrance said early Saturday afternoon, a view echoed by Tara Zerbo, sales associate at Miller’s Jewelry.

Business was “not too shabby” by early afternoon, Zerbo said. “We’ve been pretty steady, actually." In the jewelry trade at least, business picks up as Christmas approaches, she said.

The concept behind Small Business Saturday is to promote local businesses that might be overlooked in the rush of Thanksgiving weekend shopping. But the Black Friday crowds also made it downtown – Torrance said her shop had did good business on Friday.

Business was steady at Red Door and its neighboring Red Door Cafe. “It’s been fun,” said co-owner Jan Thacker. “It’s really wonderful that people support small business.”

Carla Needham, owner of Body Benefitz, normally is closed Saturdays, but stayed open to give people a look at her new business. Business was a little slow in the morning, but it was a good way to get the word out, she said. Along with body treatment like massage, the shop sells soaps, handcrafted jewelry and other crafts.

Small Business Saturday is always fun, Thacker said. “Maybe it’s because people come down with the intention of supporting small businesses.”