By Allison Skibo
In 2010, American Express started a new holiday shopping tradition when they trademarked Small Business Saturday. The mission is simple: help small businesses do more business. Weelunkers Steve Novotney and Joelle Connors shared some great ideas for local gift-buying and explained why shopping small matters.
The whole concept is a perfect fit for Reinvent Wheeling – a 501(c)(3) focused on supporting events and businesses from North Wheeling through Centre Market. Executive Director Jake Doughterty and I set up a table outside the Upper Market House to hand out Small Business Saturday swag (courtesy of American Express) and promote Reinvent Wheeling’s upcoming fundraiser, the Joy to the World holiday concert on December 12.
Greeting people with “Happy Small Business Saturday!” was met with smiles and plans of where they planned to shop. Centre-Market-goers were excited to talk about the new energy taking over Wheeling, with one former Ohio Valley resident crediting Weelunk for keeping him in the loop. Even Reinvent Wheeling benefitted from SBS by selling a few branded t-shirts to shoppers who want to wear their hometown name with pride. (Speaking of the shirts, you can purchase one for $15 at the JTTW concert.)
Lunch at Later Alligator then a treat at Centre Market Bakery. A classic Coleman’s fish sandwich followed by the static electricity demonstration at SMART Centre Market. Hot drinks from Centre Cup Coffee to sip while antique shopping. These aren’t hypothetical ideas for shopping small. These are actual ways people spent Small Business Saturday.
Even the businesses are getting more involved with SBS. Cookiepops invited people in for free hot chocolate and complimentary (delicious) sugar cookies. Under The Elder Tree Massage Therapy and Natural Body Care offered customizable gift baskets. The Wheeling Artisan Center gave out coupons for 20% off an item.
If you missed Small Business Saturday, don’t worry – every day is a chance to shop small.
Options in the greater Downtown Wheeling area:
Food / Drinks
Bridge Tavern
Casa di Vino
Centre Cup Coffee
Centre Market Bakery
Coleman’s Fish Market
Cookiepops
DiCarlo’s
Good Mansion Wines
Hall of Fame Café
Later Alligator
Lebanon Bakery
Market Vines
Metropolitan Citi Grill
Michael’s Beef House
Oliver’s Pies
River City
Soup Shack
The Cheese Melt
Uncle Pete’s
Vagabond Kitchen
Valley Cheese
Wheeling Coffee & Spice
Wood-N-Stitches
Entertainment / Activities
Art with a Twist
Capitol Theatre
Children’s Museum of the Ohio Valley
Eckhart House
Happy Goat Yoga
Towngate Theater
Victoria Jamboree
WesBanco Arena
West Virginia Independence Hall
Wheeling Nailers
Shopping
Antiques on the Market
Artworks Around Town
Bower on Market
Edna’s Gift Shop
Laupp Florist
Linn Pottery
Paradox Bookstore
Puddleducks
Roadrunner Computer
Shuggy’s Antiques
SMART Centre Market
Stuff with Attitude
Susan’s Antiques
The Alpha Store
The Vintage Cottage
Under the Elder Tree
Wheeling Artisan Center
Wheeling Flower Shop
Yocum’s Antiques
Photos provided by Allison Skibo.