Downtown has giveaways for Small Business Saturday

Between the shopping frenzy associated with Black Friday and Cyber Monday falls Small Business Saturday, an initiative started by American Express in 2010 that encourages people to shop locally the Saturday after Thanksgiving.

Retail tax revenue earned from buying local products and services helps fund city services and keeps more money in the community.

Since the U.S. Senate in a resolution formally designated the day in 2011, estimated consumer spending on Small Business Saturday has grown to $5.5 billion, according to American Express' website.

When people shop local, "more of that dollar comes back to our community," said Marla Mills, executive director of Old Town Cape.

This year, downtown Cape Girardeau business owners created two gift baskets, each valued at about $600, that will be won by two local shoppers. The baskets are filled with donations from downtown merchants. One basket will be given away today and the other will be given away Saturday.

Judy Barks Westrich, who has an art studio in downtown Cape Girardeau, donated two of her paintings for the baskets.

With the holiday season coming, Westrich said Small Business Saturday would be a good time for the community to show their support for small businesses.

Mills said shopping local is a way for people to step back from the hurried season and enjoy unique, genuine items and provide people with a better overall shopping experience.

Many local businesses in Cape Girardeau are small businesses, she said, and Small Business Saturday is important because "small businesses really contribute to the health of our community."

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