Small Business Saturday Recap Allison Skibo December 1, 2014 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. Share this:Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window) Leave a Reply Cancel ReplyYou must be logged in to post a comment.