Shopping Small in Downtown Bismarck | Video

Michelle San Miguel | 11/24/2012

Downtown Bismarck was busier than usual Saturday afternoon as businesses looked to cash in on Small Business Saturday.

"We see a lot more foot traffic on days like today when the rest of the country is promoting it and locally it`s being promoted," said Lynn Prouty, co-owner of Impact "Gallery and Gifts."

Kittson and 3rd has been open for five weeks and the women`s boutique is already making a name for itself among the other retail stores in the capital city. "It`s huge. Just to see all the people walking around downtown and coming in and checking us out and telling their friends," said store manager Ky Jones.

Prouty said, "It`s kind of a kick off to the retail season for us and it carries on throughout the year. The idea behind Small Business Saturday is hopefully that every Saturday people will come back."

Prouty says thanks to Small Business Saturday and Bismarck`s downtown business association, she`s seen more customers in the past three years, including people like Gwen Frei.

"You hear about Black Friday and up until this year I didn`t even know about Small Business Saturday," Frei said.

According to the Small Business Association, more than half of working Americans own or work for a small business.

"I ran my own business for a while so I know how tough it is and so it`s so great to be able to give back to the community rather than shopping at the big-box stores," said shopper Caitlin Winterhalt.

"There`s a real entrepreneurial spirit in North Dakota that I think goes back to the beginning of our state really," said Dawn Kopp, executive director of the Downtown Business Association of Bismarck.

American Express kicked off Small Business Saturday in 2010. Last year more than 100 million people nationwide shopped small on Small Business Saturday.

COMMENT ON THIS STORY

BACK TO NEWS | BACK TO BISMARCK STORIES