Want to make a positive impact on our local economy? Shop small this Saturday!
Since 2010, Small Business Saturday has been a day for shoppers to support their community’s local businesses during the holiday season. Sandwiched between Black Friday and Cyber Monday, Small Business Saturday is a way to step away from the big box stores and connect with the small businesses in our community.
Shopping small not only benefits our local business owners but the entire community. In fact, for every dollar spent at a small business, 67 cents stay within the local economy. Not to mention the support these businesses often provide to the community year-round through their generous contributions to local sports teams, charities and events. While it’s important to support these businesses all year long, Small Business Saturday emphasizes the shops that are playing important role in making our community special.
We spoke with a few business owners and economic development professionals from Wheeling to have them share why shopping small is important not just during the holiday season, but all year long!
Amy Cordy, Owner of VC Wares
Amy Cordy, owner of VC Wares
“We are blessed with the best customers who understand the importance of shopping small and how much better it feels; they shop with us throughout the year because they know they will find items here that are different, with a heavy focus on collections from other local and woman-owned businesses. AND they also make it a point to come out and celebrate small businesses with us on this day. Yet it’s also a day where we get to welcome new visitors to the area who are making it a point to explore their locally-owned small businesses and see how much Centre Market has to offer.
Small Business Saturday is a day of celebration for us – we get to spoil our customers and enjoy the day with them after working so hard to curate a shop full of goodness that we hope spreads joy all year long.”
Laurie Conway, Marketing and Communications Director for Wheeling Area Chamber of Commerce
“Wheeling is such a vibrant place and filled with tons of hidden gems – boutiques, restaurants, artisans and more! The Wheeling Area Chamber works to support small businesses in a variety of ways from networking to educational opportunities. One way the community can help support these businesses is by shopping locally. Spending your money at our local businesses means you are working to keep Wheeling thriving for many years to come and helps to promote our region to tourists and people passing through.”
Patricia Smith, Owner of Shea Rose Soapery
Valerie Piko, Program Development Manager for Regional Economic Development Partnership (RED)
Where To Shop Small This Saturday
Not sure where to begin? There are plenty of options for you to explore in and around Downtown Wheeling!
The Wheeling Artisan Center
Get an early start to your day at the Wheeling Artisan Center. Wheeling Heritage is offering a free, all-level yoga class at 8:30 a.m. with Betsy Sweeny. Bring your yoga mat and prepare to get loosened up before a day of shopping. Afterward, head upstairs to the Wheeling Artisan Center Shop to browse through their selection of products made right here in West Virginia! The Wheeling Artisan Center Shop will be open from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. on Small Business Saturday. Check out what’s new at the shop by visiting artisancenter.com.
Additionally, you can browse through several pop-up vendors from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. in the atrium of the Wheeling Artisan Center. This pop-up was originally slated to be held outdoors at The Plaza on Market, but was relocated due to weather. Be sure to stop by and see handmade products from Stone Cottage Apothecary, Lynn Allan Designs, The Dreambow Factory, and Crazy Creative Creations by Mimi.
Centre Market
Centre Market is one shopping hot spot that you won’t want to miss! In addition to the dozens of storefronts within the historic market house and surrounding streets, Centre Market will also host pop-up vendors with Shea Rose Soapery, East Wheeling Clayworks, and Homebody Skincare in the Lower Market. You can also shop to the sounds of live music performed by Ezra Hamilton and Ananga Martin. Centre Market will be open from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. on Small Business Saturday. Learn more at centremarket.org.
The Plaza on Market
The Plaza on Market continues to grow into a hub for community gathering, and there’s plenty to do at the Plaza this Saturday! Fuel up with a donut from the So Nuts 4 Donuts food truck and be sure to check out the surrounding businesses, like Mmm Popcorn, Lucky Candies 2, and DL’s Hair and Clothing shop. Plus, stick around and ice skate on the artificial ice rink from 3 – 8 p.m., courtesy of the City of Wheeling! Learn more about this event here.
Clientele Art Studio
Head over to East Wheeling to check out Clientele Art Studio’s Small Business Saturday Vendor Market. This is the perfect opportunity to purchase gifts from small businesses that don’t have traditional storefronts. All sorts of items will be available such as handmade pottery, suncatchers, vintage goods, handmade soaps, and jewelry! Learn more at clientelestudio.com.
Park Once, Shop All Day!
Thanks to the City of Wheeling, you can shop all over town without having to drive! The Ohio Valley Regional Transit Authority will run a special downtown bus line for FREE on Small Business Saturday.
The bus will start running at 9:30 a.m. at Centre Market. It will then proceed to make stops at The Plaza on Market and the Wheeling Artisan Center until 5 p.m. The bus will wait at each stop for five minutes before moving on to the next stop. Check out the full schedule below:
We hope that you head out this Saturday and support our small businesses. If you want to learn about even more small businesses in and around Wheeling, then check this article that lists dozens of local businesses from across the Ohio Valley.
