Louisville stores benefit from an exhibition on Saturday of small businesses

purchasing: Your Online Holiday Order Could Hit Your Porch Earlier This Season

Vertesch, of Louisville, said she preferred the day to black Friday because "supporting our local stores" helps keep local dollars in the community.

Small Business Saturday was created in 2010 by American Express to allow more customers to enter the doors of small businesses. He grew to become a permanent fixture of the holiday shopping weekend across the country.

According to a study commissioned by American Express, 67 cents of every dollar spent on a small business remain in the local community.

According to American Express, small businesses in the country attracted about 108 million people who spent $ 12.9 billion last year. In 2016, the day attracted 112 million Americans and generated more than $ 15 billion.

Eyedia Design It Again, from Baxter Avenue in the Highlands, benefited from discounts on a whole range of furniture and interior decorating products. Co-owner Misha Meinhold said the entire weekend was good for business and that the extended holiday period until Christmas would help even more.

"Our customers support very well (Saturday SME)," said Meinhold. "Everything is local, you can not find all the products we have in the biggest stores."

An example of a unique product at the store is an article resembling a couch created by artist Kacy Jackson of Louisville.

Meinhold said that clients were also free to draw or paint the article, and that the proceeds of the sale would go to support the Women and Family Center, which supports people traumatized by domestic violence and family violence. sexual assault in Kentucky and southern Indiana. .

Porter had online salespeople in his shop on Saturday, including Bonnet Bandits, which sold natural silk products for the hair, and Natural Blessings Bath & Body, which sold perfumes, soaps and bath products.

"We're just trying to get the companies out here," Porter said, noting that many often went to Broadway without realizing some stores. "We understand that department stores offer things like electronics, but that's not the case, but when you think of handmade gifts and natural items, we have them."