Recognizing the strength of their numbers, more and more small businesses are clustering in neighborhoods and downtowns to attract buyers on Saturday from the small business.

Retailers bring the art of shop window and holiday lights back into the North Loop, arranging a lighting of the trees to wrap up the activities of the afternoon at the 50th and in France at Edina and a festival three day trip to Christkindlmarket in downtown Excelsior.

"We can walk around, see what interests us in the shop windows and stop by the shops or cafes," said Chris Bray of Minneapolis leaving the North Loop Park store on Friday with his daughter, who was at the home for the Thanksgiving weekend. . "Black Friday, Saturday small business – it's a chance for a family outing."

It's the ninth year that Saturday for Small Businesses has been created to help small businesses attract more customers. The awareness of the "buy local" movement has increased each year, while small businesses are finding new ways to attract vacation buyers.

"When you encourage local customers to support small businesses, it enhances the value of the community and small businesses supporting each other," said Nicole Leinbach Reyhle, spokesperson for Small Business Saturday at American Express.

Five years ago, a dozen stores and restaurants in the North Loop neighborhood of Minneapolis came together. That number has more than doubled this year for the new North Loop Lights event.

It presents companies who remember when the windows dazzled customers who wanted to enter a store. Martin Patrick 3, with windows as inviting as those of the old downtown Dayton, created a naughty and friendly theme with immaculately equipped dummies wearing white or black crowns and wings, drinking martinis and playing electric guitar.

"The presence of a growing number of participating retailers reinforces neighborhood solidarity," said Greg Walsh, co-owner of Martin Patrick.

Marie Dwyer, co-owner of Cooks of Crocus Hill, which has three sister city sites, recently expanded her North Loop store with oversized windows that currently feature "Toast", "Give" and "Get".

"It's fun to go back to the retail business and create excitement through signage," she said. "It makes shopping fun. We need more of this now. "

The Dwyer store also offers cooking demonstrations, hot cider and a gift for any purchase.

Most small businesses can not offer the same level of discount as big box stores because of the reduced volume and lack of advertising subsidies from manufacturers. However, a 20% discount on sales in stores is not unusual for the annual event a day after Black Friday. .

Small retailers make up for the lack of big door-to-door considering a visit as a homecoming, said Bill Damberg, owner of Brightwater Clothing & Gear in downtown Excelsior.

"It's a festive feeling with our German Christmas market, a little parade and Santa Claus," he said of the four blocks in the heart of downtown Excelsior.

Independent retailers hope that warm weather in twin cities will encourage customers to visit their local retailers and then walk into one of the best known shopping areas. Think of Downtown Anoka, Excelsior, Wayzata or White Bear Lake. Or the 50th and France districts in Edina, 48th and Chicago and Uptown in Minneapolis and Highland Park and Grand Avenue in St. Paul.

Grand Avenue is extending its holiday sending coup for next Saturday with Santa Claus, singers and a classic streetcar along the 20 blocks of the business district for the annual Grand Meander.

The spirit of Small Business Saturday revolves around the camaraderie of shoppers gathered in neighborhood businesses, but many smaller stores are also nodding to their online customers. According to American Express, more than half of consumers should check the websites of small retailers Saturday or Monday cyber.

Ilana Fromer, of Minneapolis, said she preferred the home delivery of a car seat that she had ordered from Pacifierkids.com on Friday morning. Later, she went to the North Loop Pacifier store to look for items for her 1-year-old baby and a baby on the way.

"Children have a lot to do while we go shopping," she said. "Saturday night we will come back to watch the lights."

For small shops without online sales, the American Independent Business Association has launched Cider Monday to promote an alternative to Cyber ​​Monday. Many bookstores have adopted the concept in previous years, but the local bookstore Magers & Quinn Uptown wants to protect themselves a bit by still offering online discounts Monday.

"People like cider, but they seem to appreciate it a bit more," said Annie Metcalf, store manager.

Dean Sidelinger of Portland, Oregon, in Twin Cities for Thanksgiving, said that the appeal of Small Business Saturday finds something different.

"Neighborhoods have different brands that you do not see anywhere else," he said on Friday. "It's a break with the chains."