LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Small Business Saturday shines a light on boutiques and encourages people to spend their money around town.
"It's one of our biggest shopping days, so we rely on the business. This is our busiest season from now until Christmas," said Justin Sharp, owner of the Electric Ghost in SoMa.
Other small businesses also look forward to this very profitable day.
"It really is the jumpstart of the holiday season," said Grace Kang, founder of Pink Olive in SoMa.
Her store saw a busier than normal day inside, and she said that Small Business Saturday helps shine a light on local shops like hers.
"For every dollar that goes into a small business, you know there's been studies that 67% goes in back into the community," Kang explained.
She wanted shoppers to really understand why it's so important to support more than big box stores.
"Running a small business has its highs and lows," Kang described. "It's always a learning process and you kind of have to evolve with the times."
Sharp shared a similar sentiment.
"They're not the ones that's donating to your little league or your nonprofit or, you know, really putting in the sweat in your community. The small businesses are," Sharp shared.
With inflation and talks of a recession, he said that makes things even more difficult for small businesses.
"We don't have the big pockets that these big corporations have that they can fall back on where we rely on local support," Sharp said.
However, he said that support is why Small Business Saturday is so important to him.
"The feeling of being supported is a dream come true," Sharp added.
Back at Pink Olive, Kang was hopeful this celebration for small and local shops will continue beyond the holidays.
"It really should be something that we should talk about and celebrate every day," Kang said.