EAST AURORA, N.Y. — Shops across Western New York are bringing in some much-needed profits thanks to Small Business Saturday.

“Especially with COVID closing down so many businesses last year, I think that supporting local this year is more important than ever,” Too Doors Down sales associate Celeste Giallanza said. “Supporting those families, especially, that might have lost out on a lot of money over the past year.”

What You Need To Know

  • Shoppers nationwide have spent more than $120 billion on Small Business Saturday over about the 10 ten years, according to American Express

  • Sydney Solem, an employee at Bella Casa, says that once the store was allowed to open back up after the shutdown, that residents have been extremely supportive

  • Whether someone was able to support local stores on Small Business Saturday, or not, shopping local at any time will help Western New York shops stay afloat

Because of this, stores in East Aurora worked very hard to get unique merchandise for Small Business Saturday, which occurs the Saturday after every Thanksgiving.

Shoppers nationwide have spent more than $120 billion on Small Business Saturday over about the last 10 years, according to American Express.

This shopping day is meant to help local economies.

Sydney Solem, an employee at Bella Casa, says that once the store was allowed to open back up after the shutdown, that residents have been extremely supportive.

“When we opened up, I feel like a lot of people wanted to stay out of the big department stores,” Solem said. “They wanted to support something. They wanted to feel like they were really putting their part into their town. A lot of people did come out. We’ve been having a great season and I hope it continues like that.”

Both Solem and Giallanza say that well before they started working at East Aurora shops, they have been visiting the stores.

“Especially the holiday season, it’s fun to have traditions,” Giallanza said. “Just growing up and coming to East Aurora to shop was always fun.”

Whether someone was able to support local stores on Small Business Saturday, or not, shopping local at any time will help Western New York shops stay afloat.