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Shop Small, not mall in Hinsdale
Elyce Rembos, owner of The Green Goddess Boutique in Hinsdale, talks with employee Ryan ONeill as he arranges the holiday apparel. Green Goddess will participate in the Shop Small campaign on Nov. 24. | Kimberly Fornek—Sun-Times Media
Updated: January 21, 2013 1:55AM
HINSDALE — Independent store owners hope Small Business Saturday will become as popular with shoppers as Black Friday.
Small Business Saturday, an effort started by American Express to encourage people to shop and buy at small, independently owned businesses, is Saturday.
With more than 100 small businesses, Hinsdale is a perfect fit for the small business campaign, said Jan Anderson, executive director of the Hinsdale Chamber of Commerce.
“We will be piggybacking on the national campaign,” said Hinsdale Director of Economic Development Timothy Scott.
In its third year, the promotion is sandwiched between the Friday after Thanksgiving when major retailers offer special sales to kick off the holiday shopping season and Cyber Monday, the day when online retailers see a spike in business, presumably because people return to work, but continue shopping via the Internet.
“I’m not sure if people realize it’s a national movement,” said Elyce Rembos, owner of the Green Goddess Boutique in Hinsdale. “Small towns across America will participate.”
Rembos will offer customers who spend at least $250 in the Green Goddess that day a $25 gift certificate for her store, located at 52 S. Washington St.
Independently owned businesses “contribute to a sense of place and are great for the community character,” Scott said.
Local business owners also are more likely to support local events, sports teams and other charitable causes, because their decisions do not have to be approved by a corporate official.
“Already we have a lot of people who are loyal to our businesses in town,” said Judy Scapin, owner of Busters, at 22 E. First St.
As a store that sells dog food and pet supplies, Scapin keeps dog treats and a bowl of water out for pets who accompany their owners when shopping.
My Sister Kate, a children’s clothing and toy store, at 48 S. Washington St. will be “beefing up on toys,” said owner Sue Tannura. “We come out with more (merchandise) in the fourth quarter.”
Tannura gives shoppers a reason to come in her shop with merchandise not sold at large chain toy stores, such as wooden toys made by the French company Janod. The line includes kitchen sets, work benches, easels, puzzles and other toys for children from infants to 8 years old.
My Sister Kate sells more established lines, too, such as Legos, which Tannura prices the same as at Target department stores to stay competitive.
Business is better since the store moved to Hinsdale from the Promenade shopping center in Oak Brook, Tannura said. “We’re part of the community here.”
