BOISE, ID — Hundreds of businesses in Downtown Boise are participating in Small Business Saturday on Saturday, November 30. Customers need to pick up a passport at any participating business. Eight stamps need to be collected from downtown merchants and returned to Rediscovered Books to be entered to win a 100 dollar gift card.
According to the Downtown Boise Association, small store owners expect an average of 29 percent of their total annual sales to take place during the holiday season.
"You're supporting a family, and I know Idaho is still very family-focused here and so for me when I know I'm supporting another small family, helping them pay for their health insurance, it makes me feel better, knowing that's going into their pocket to help support that family," said Crystal Potter, Potter Wines.
Rebecca Gottberg, the events coordinator for Rediscovered Books, says shopping local has a ripple effect on the community.
"Not only is paying the people who work in those small businesses but the opportunity to put that money back into the community because we park down here. We eat down here. We live down here. You know, so we do our part to share that money forward, which if you buy at one of the big box places or buy online, your money doesn't stay in the community."
Dozens of businesses in Boise take part in Small Business Saturday, which offers a unique experience for shoppers.
"It's not just important, but why not. The food down here is delicious, the drinks are incredible, there are tons of great retail, and there are other businesses that are doing great things. We should all patronage them and see what's going on and be a part of that vibrancy," said Jennifer Hensley, executive director, Downtown Boise Association.
Head to DowntownBoise.org to learn more.
