WEST MONROE, La. (KNOE 8 News) - Black Friday is over and locally owned shops are preparing for "Small Business Saturday."
Owners of mom and pop stores along Antique Alley are putting on the final touches for Saturday's shoppers.
Debbie Willis of Southern Lady Antiques says a lot more goes in to the holidays than just hanging lights.
"With our business, you don't just order your merchandise, you go and hand select it to come into an antique shop," says Willis.
Many owners are relying on Small Business Saturday to publicize what their shops have to offer, and send new customers their way. Willis says shops in West Monroe's Antique Alley have something the big stores don't have - personalized service and one of a kind products.
"The products are tailored to what our customers like because we know our customers," says Pamela Petrus, Salt and Pepper owner, "and the most important thing is just that service that you get. We greet you with a smile, we ask if you need help, we find what you need."
Co-owner of Salt and Pepper, Petrus says she hopes crowds that come shop on Saturday will find out that Antique Alley has a lot more than just antiques.
"We still have those antique stores that we are known for, but there's also stores like us. Stores that offer new products and specialty stores that aren't antiques."
The West Monroe-West Ouachita Chamber of Commerce believes people will fall in love with the unique products at smaller stores. Small Business Saturday is also expected to give the Twin Cities' economy a much-needed boost.
"A lot of people are small business owners right now, tend to be hurting," says Chamber President Courtney Hornsby, "so let's support them and help them stay in business the rest of the year and encourage people to go shop."
Most shops on Antique Alley will be open tomorrow from 10am to 5pm, but the Chamber of Commerce wants to remind shoppers that there are small businesses all over Ouachita Parish that need your support.
Saturday, May 25 2013 1:48 PM EDT2013-05-25 17:48:48 GMT
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