Downtown Shops Report Steady Traffic on Small Business Saturday

Downtown Clawson businesses celebrated the 'shop local' push on Saturday with steady customer traffic throughout the day.

owner Mary Liz Curtin said brought plenty of shoppers to the store, however it wasn't much busier than Black Friday. 

"(Black Friday) is a big shopping day, we'll have a good day (Saturday) but last year Black Friday was bigger," Curtin said.

American Express organized the national initiative that allowed shoppers to get discounts and deals from small businesses as well as a special $25 rebate incentive from the company when they spend at least $25 in a store. 

Director Joan Horton said more people recognized Small Business Saturday this year compared to last year when it first launched. 

The DDA set up a tent downtown for Small Business Saturday and Santa Claus was dressed to impress as they handed out candy canes to shoppers on foot and cars stopped at the traffic lights.

"For every $100 you spend here in town, $68 stays in the local economy through taxes and payroll, compared to $48 at a chain stores," Horton said. "It makes a difference. It's a great way for us to thank people for shopping local." 

Debbie Bonich, owner of , was ready to handle any overflow of customers on Saturday that her two stylists on duty couldn't handle.

"We have been steady all day," Bonich said. "There hasn't been a huge rush yet, but it's still early." 

said business was booming on Black Friday and there were fewer customers on Small Business Saturday. The shop stayed open until 8:30 p.m. Friday, later than usual.

"It was crazy in here," said Doc Zgorski, Wunderground sales associate. 

 served many customers on Black Friday because they awarded 20 percent off to customers all weekend if they had a $25 or more receipt from Michigan-based businesses.

Even still, Friday and Saturday's bustling business is nothing compared to what Sunday will bring for Leon & Lulu, which marks the beginning of the annual artist market held inside the store.  

With 47 artists displaying their work in the store, it has been a madhouse in the past.

"Our busiest day of the year as far as most transactions and probably our highest dollar will be on Sunday," Curtin said. "We will have well over 1,000 people come through the store."

had its big day on Thanksgiving when they had a special sale— 10 percent to 90 percent off on select items. The store is only open from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the holiday, but it's easily their busiest day of the weekend.

Warp 9 hadn't see any influx of customers on Small Business Saturday as of 1 p.m.

"Clawson has a bunch of destination businesses, so people come to Clawson for a specific thing that they can't get in another town," Curtin said. "It also helps that we're only a mile and a half from the freeway and there's always lots of parking available for customers."