Stores Prep For Small Business Saturday

By Brian Miller

CREATED Nov. 23, 2012

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  • ¤W1 273 ]] C2.5 G 73 [[ TAKE PKG FULL-------------------- RUNS=1:13 *CG1 1FCG READY FOR SMALL BUSNIESS SATURDAY NEW AT 6:00 1-4 *CG1 2cg LISA KNUTSON SHOPPER 16-22 *CG1 2cg NICOLE ZICH OWNER SASSY GIRL 30-35 *CG1 2cg RACHEL SOWINS Video by nbc26.com

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GREEN BAY-- Northeast Wisconsin businesses want shoppers to “think small" this weekend for the third annual Small Business Saturday. It’s designed to support locally-owned stores. American Express is credited with coining the phrase, and with help from the credit card giant, local shop owners say the idea seems to be catching on

So while large crowds of shoppers fill the mall on Black Friday, across town on Broadway, a slow, steady crowd shops.

"They have things that are different than the run of the mill Black Friday specials,” said shopper Lisa Knuston.

Something different is what brings Knutson to Sassy Girl in Green Bay.  “You get a little bit more customer service when you do the small and it's nice to be able to support the Green Bay community," Knuston said.

Owner Nicole Zich has noticed sales increase on the Saturday after Thanksgiving since American Express began promoting the idea in 2010.

It's a revenue boost for stores like A Gift Itself, a custom jewelry store just a few stores down on Broadway. Owner Rachel Sowinski describes her shop as an art studio specializing in jewelry.

“Nothing is mass produced everything that we have on display is handmade one at a time so nothing is exactly the same as the last,” Sowinski.

Thousands of shops are taking part in small business Saturday this year. According to national research, almost 70%will be offering special discounts in hopes of luring in shoppers looking for something off the beaten path.