Small business owners throughout downtown Charleston were stringing up their Christmas decorations Tuesday.
At the Purple Moon on Quarrier Street, Chuck Hamsher, the co-owner, was setting up his aluminum Christmas trees.
"We like to do it the old-fashioned way," Hamsher said, indicating that he doesn't like for the decorations to go up before Christmas week. "Like they did in the '50s."
The store's staff wasn't just preparing for Christmas, they also were preparing for Small Business Saturday, a special sales event meant to match the frenzy of Black Friday and bring some attention to local businesses.
The Purple Moon will be participating, offering sales on some of the items in their store.
"It's good that we focus on small businesses," Hamsher said. "I wish it was small business day for 365 days a year."
He's not alone in that sentiment. At The Art Store on Hale Street, Lisa Fischer Casto held her big art sale last Saturday. But on Small Business Saturday, she will be kicking off a new exhibit of small works.
"I'm nonplussed by it," Casto said, referring to Small Business Saturday. "Everyone makes a big deal about it and I think it's good because everyone should be shopping at small businesses all the time. I don't think one day a year does it. It should be a constant thing."
Small Business Saturday started in 2010 as a campaign by American Express to bring more attention to small businesses during the Thanksgiving holiday rush to shop at big corporations on Black Friday and Cyber Monday. American Express offers $25 matching credit for anyone who shops at a small business that day.
Originally, Eric Reckard, the owner of The Greenhouse of Teays Valley in Putnam County, was only going to promote the American Express campaign, but decided last minute to add a 10 percent discount to people who both shop in his store and eat in his restaurant.
In South Hills, the small businesses have joined together to host a canned food drive where if someone brings three cans they get 15 percent off at participating Bridge Road Shops. Some of the stores are also doing a candy cane pool where customers can draw candy canes that are wrapped in coupons.
"It's important to shop local because it feeds your own community," said Katie Olszeski, the manager of Geraniums. "When you shop local you're keeping that money in your city,"
Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin's office agrees.
"Research shows that more of the dollars spent with locally owned small businesses tend to stay in the local economy," a news release from Governor's office said. "As consumers, we show our support when we buy from West Virginia's small businesses in our local communities."
Not all businesses are offering sales to entice shoppers. Taylor Books on Capitol Street will open early on Saturday, but hasn't planned any special discounts. They did, however, sign up to get Small Business Saturday tote bags that they could give to customers.
"We love the idea of drawing attention to small businesses," said manager Dan Carlisle, "because most of us in this world, the small business world, do not have the advertising dollars that corporations have to push their stores."
At Delfine's Jewelry on Capitol Street, a banner out front invokes Santa. Inside, everything in the store will be offered at 20 percent to 50 percent off from Black Friday to Small Business Saturday.
"Everyone likes to support small businesses," Megan Delfine said. "And this is a day to do that."
Reach Daniel Desrochers at dan.desrochers@wvgazettemail.com, 304-348-4886 or on twitter at @drdesrochers.