What started as a credit card promotion has become another post-Thanksgiving holiday shopping tradition.
On Saturday, Mom and Pop shops across the state are taking part in Small Business Saturday.
In downtown New Haven, shop local is the name of the game on this Small Business Saturday.
"It brings people out of the malls, off their computers," said Deb Marquis, of Wave Gallery in New Haven.
Kim McIntyre avoided the madness at the malls on Black Friday, but she already did some window shopping on Chapel Street before returning this morning.
“What’s on the shopping list?" "Some earrings and I don’t know what else, but I did see some earrings that I wanted and maybe a hat,” she said.
She's shopping for herself, but says she may leave with gifts for her loved ones.
Local
"I don't know yet, maybe something will jump out at me," she added.
New Haven's downtown shopping district features some stores, like Enson's Menswear, that have been in business for decades.
"Small Business Saturday is very important to us, it gets us a chance to show that we're a specialty store, that we're not a big box store, that we care about our customers,” said Jim Civitello.
Arla Rosmarin from Milford came early to purchase a gift for the youngest member of her family.
"I'm going to get my great granddaughter a hat that they have in one of these stores. She’s ten months old and the hat says 'I’m having a bad hair day' and I thought it would just be hysterical,” she said.
In the age of Amazon and Cyber Monday deals, she prefers to do her holiday shopping the old fashion way.
"You can see everything and you can touch it actually and feel if the fabric is soft and they have unique things," she added.
Now through Christmas Eve, the Shops at Yale are offering four free hours of parking if you spend at least $30 at one of their stores.
Mom and Pop shops in Hartford also offer special deals for Small Business Saturday.
For owners, the sales aren't as important as the service.
"Painting for us is secondary, fun is primary. If you don't leave here having enjoyed yourself, then we didn't do our job. So when you get here, you can expect to have a lot of fun. It's what makes us different than any other paint bar," said Stephen Richmond, the owner of Painting With A Twist.
"Painting With A Twist" was one of the many shops in Hartford participating in Small Business Saturday. If you're interested, check them out on Pratt Street.
