Bradenton's Village of the Arts hopes to get a piece of Small Business Saturday
BRADENTON -- While some shoppers like the luster of the new mall, others prefer the elbow grease that's used to polish off work in the Village of the Arts.
Several village shops are counting on those shoppers on Small Business Saturday, in combination with the village's own Shop The Village campaign.
This is the fifth annual Small Business Saturday, which takes place two days after Thanksgiving. It was founded by American Express to encourage people to shop local during a holiday weekend traditionally focused on big box retailers.
"I think at Christmastime and the holidays, they want something specially made and handcrafted to take home with them," Bits and Pieces owner Linda Bronkema said about holiday shoppers. "The mall is the mall. It's not individually made for you. When they come to shop in the village, it's the only thing in the world like it."
This is the village's first organized foray into participating with Small Business Saturday. Not all village shops will have special promotions, but nearly all will be open on Saturday except Retrobaked. Other shops and galleries like Baobab Tree Gallery & Studio, 1113 12th St. W., will use the weekend as an opportunity to show off new items. Gordon Turner, owner of the gallery, said he just picked up art pieces during a trip to Argentina that will be available to buy next weekend.
The National Retail Federation asked shoppers for the first time about their intentions to shop during Small Business Saturday, and it appears that people are buying in to buy local. Almost three-quarters, or 72.7 percent, said they will or might specifically shop for Small Business Saturday,
according to the federation.
"More than just a shopping day, Small Business Saturday highlights the millions of entrepreneurs and visionaries who help make retail the dynamic and community-focused industry that it is," said NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay.
Overall, 60 million people are expected to do some of the holiday shopping on Saturday, which is about two out of every five people, according to the national organization.
Kevin Webb, owner of 10th Avenue West Studios, said it would be nice if more people could find their way to the village.
"We're kind of a hidden jewel. A lot of people haven't been to us or to the village," he said.
He has four custom art pieces ordered for Christmas and another 15 to 20 appointments for people wanting to schedule time to do their Christmas shopping for unique items from regionally known artists.
"A lot of the artists not only have a gallery, but many do large commissions," Webb said. "Some work strictly on commission and don't have a public retail gallery. Some of the finest artists in Tampa Bay are here and doing sculpture and stained glass work for businesses."
Dawn Collins, owner of Mystic Mines, said the importance of Small Business Saturday for shops in Florida's largest artist colony is to help kick off momentum for the rest of the holiday season. She remembers a father and daughter who shopped in the village last year because their goal was to buy local, and walked away with several bags from the cottages.
"I think that people are becoming more aware of the benefit it can have all around to have small businesses," Collins said.
To help draw people in, Collins is offering reduced rate mining buckets at Mystic Mines, a gemstone store, along with buy one-get one deals and specials at the Village Mystic. At her spa, Alcover Massage, a free hot stone upgrade will be offered for massages.
At Bits and Pieces, artist Somali Debesh will be in the store from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. with jewelry and silk saris from India. Sugar Cubed, Arts & Eats Gallery and Ortygia will all have specials.
Ortygia will offer free dessert with lunch entrees or 50 percent off a bottle of wine at dinner, plus George Worthmore will perform.
If shoppers don't turn out for Small Business Saturday in the village, the following weekend, Dec. 5-6, is the fifth annual Old Fashioned Village Christmas with Southeast High School Carolers and the Key Tones Barbershop Quartet as the village is lit up for the holidays. The Dec. 5 event runs from 6-9:30 p.m., and the Dec. 6 event is 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Art walks will have extended hours in December, ending at 9:30 p.m. on Dec. 6 and 9 p.m. Dec. 12 and 19.
Charles Schelle, Herald business reporter, can be reached at 941-745-7095. Follow him on Twitter @ImYourChuck.
This story was originally published November 24, 2014 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Bradenton's Village of the Arts hopes to get a piece of Small Business Saturday."