SEATTLE — Small Business Saturday meant more to businesses this year than ever before, with these very businesses already suffering due to the coronavirus.
“I wanted to be intentional with bringing in and supporting local businesses here in Seattle,” said Sean Conroe, the general manager of B8ta's in Seattle's University Village.
B8ta is a retail company that features small businesses trying to expand their reach to the public.
Conroe said about 25% of sales they made on Saturday came directly from the six local brands they featured.
The pandemic has closed or altered the futures of many small businesses and left more reeling. Conroe believes the public is being more intentional with their money this year.
“I think people are more thoughtful with how they are spending,” he said.
Rob Pickering of SnapDoodleToys agrees, saying he’s averaging about 40-dollars more per sale.
“We have 30%, 20% less people coming in. But they seem to be opening their wallets, which has been really nice to support us because it's been a tough eight months,” he said.
Pickering said sales are down 20% compared to last year, but they’ve gotten creative with curbside service at their other locations and online ordering.
“Seattle is so good about small businesses,” Pickering said, “They want to support local and you know, thank goodness for that.”