Small businesses are looking to make their mark during this year's holiday season. Locally owned businesses are pulling out the stops to lure customers inside their stores.
This Saturday marks the sixth annual Small Business Saturday and local shops, such as those in Overton Square, are preparing for the day that has become increasingly important to local economies across the nation.
"Being active on Small Business Saturday and every other day just stimulates your economy," Leena Mincey with Sweet Noshings said. "What it does is creates jobs for everybody."
At Sweet Noshings in Overton Square, customers can snag a sweet treat and hopefully a smile to go with it. That's something you might not get from a big box store.
"Introduce ourselves to the people and remember people's names and know what they want and make sure that everybody is welcomed in here," Mincey said. "And that's something that we think small businesses do well."
With the rise of internet shopping, stores like Sweet Noshings are having trouble competing with online competitors.
"I do see a lot of people call and ask for pricing because I do know that they're shopping online and looking for comparison," Mincey said.
"There are people that don't want to leave the house," Barry Roberson, Owner of Breakaway Running, said.
Roberson opened the first Breakaway Running 35 years ago. He said Small Business Saturday has been critically important to supporting small shops across the nation.
"We like the focus on shop local and there's a good reason to," Roberson said. "Because when people come in here as opposed to a national chain or even a franchise, every dollar they spend stays here and goes back into our local economy."
For Small Business Saturday, Sweet Noshings and Breakaway Running said they will be offering some sweet deals.
Breakaway Running said for every $100 customers spend, they'll get a free t-shirt that says "Support local shops."
For a list of local shops in your area, click here.