Warm weather a plus for Small Business Saturday

Peaceful protest downtown doesn't hinder Jefferson City shopping

Ben Godsy, 3, gets a helping hand from his mom Misty Godsy while pushing a Thomas the Train car through the wash station as the two take a little time to play while shopping at Downtown Book and Toy in Jefferson City.
Ben Godsy, 3, gets a helping hand from his mom Misty Godsy while pushing a Thomas the Train car through the wash station as the two take a little time to play while shopping at Downtown Book and Toy in Jefferson City.

Gorgeous weather gave sales a lift on Small Business Saturday, as avid shoppers wandered in and out of retail shops all over Jefferson City.

photo

AP

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nev., left, listens as Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., right, drives home a point while answering questions on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Dec. 24, 2009, after the Senate passed the health care reform bill. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont. is at center.

Twenty-two businesses participated in the event, designed to boost the bottom lines of America's smaller retailers. Some customers took free trolley rides to explore the Capital City's stores; others simply drove their own cars.

Alex Antal, 27, and Kaitlyn Doescher, 24, both of Jefferson City, came downtown to browse for shoes and do some Christmas shopping. Doescher wanted to pick up some Scottish soaps from Haute Salon to give as gifts.

"I like Small Business Saturday much better than Black Friday, because money spent stays in the community," Antal said.

Small group protests briefly

The mood of the event was altered briefly by a small Ferguson-related protest that unfolded downtown around noon Saturday. Nine people - all members of the same family who live both in Jefferson City and St. Louis - carried signs and shouted slogans as they walked down High Street.

James Johnson, 26, of Jefferson City, carried a sign that read: "We Have Nothing to Loose But Our Chains."

Decrying "government oppression," Johnson said people are "going to battle" to raise an alarm that some Americans - the poor and minorities - suffer more at the hands of police than other citizens do.

"They might not like what we have to say," Johnson said, noting that many of the shoppers on Saturday were going about their businesses as if nothing momentous was happening in Missouri this month.

"A lot of it is denial," he added. "It wouldn't be the same if their kids were dying. Life should be the same for everybody, as death should be."

Alene Williams, a relative of Johnson's from St. Louis, was in town to visit her daughter. Shouting "no justice, no peace," Williams carried a sign saying "All Lives Matter, Stop Killing Our Kids."

"I just thought we would make a peaceful protest," she said. "We want our voices heard."

The family's protest didn't last long. By and large, the Small Business Saturday event was peaceful.

Strong sales reported

Several downtown business owners and managers reported strong sales on Saturday.

"It's been steady," reported Sam Bushman, owner of Samuel's Tuxedos & Gifts. "We've sold a lot of toys. It's just wonderful weather for people to be out."

"Business has been good today," said Judy Howard, owner of Saffees. "Everybody is downtown. It's been a great push. It's a great idea. People do want to support small businesses, so they are bringing their families in."

C.C. McClure, manager of Downtown Book and Toy, said a trifecta of good weather, having a local author in the bookstore and the desire of people to support the city's smaller businesses created a wonderful day for her company.

"We've been very, very busy from 10 a.m. onward," she said. "Everybody is so pleased to be downtown."

She noted many people this year brought their out-of-town guests to High Street to shop as the day's entertainment.

"A lot of people travel home to Jefferson City over the holiday weekend, and they are here to see people they haven't seen in a while," she said. "We are seeing big family groups - of four to six people - moving along," she said.

She also noted the bookstore was full of people interested in purchasing copies of "The Life We Bury," a new crime novel by criminal defense attorney Allen Eskins. Eskins is a former Helias High School graduate who appeared in the shop Saturday to greet customers and sign books.

Santa also made an appearance downtown. Sitting in a small room near J. Pfenney's Grill and Pub, St. Nicholas said a steady stream of children came by to sit on his lap and have their pictures taken.

Santa said electronic gadgets - such as iPads - are popular with kids this season, as well as any item related to the Disney hit movie, "Frozen."

"It's been really fun," he said.

Originally launched by American Express in 2010 to help smaller businesses get more exposure, Small Business Saturday has been adopted by other retailers and merchandisers around the country who support the concept and want it to flourish.