Saturday, November 24, 2012

I Got Yer Small Business

I guess when they say "small business" this is not what they mean. Yet this guy is definitely plying his (or her) trade.

Small Business Saturday is a relatively new "holiday," though some of us have been celebrating it year-round for as long as we can remember. It's a good day to explore that little store you've been wondering about, where you've never heard of the brands they carry and half the stuff on the shelves is locally handmade.

You never know. Someone, maybe a neighbor, might have woven something special that just calls to you.


22 comments:

Shell Sherree said...

Oh, nice one, Petrea! And hooray for small businesses ~ the world would be sadly lacking in their unique charms if we didn't have them.

dive said...

Yay for Small Business Saturday!
Thank you, Petrea. I must confess I'd not heard of SBS until you wrote about it but will celebrate it every Saturday from now on. This morning so far I've done my usual routine of Breakfast Club in our favourite organic coffee shop, followed by stocking up at my local fishmonger and my village organic farm collective and spending too much money in the Book Hive (one of our many indie booksellers).
And now, thanks to your making me aware of SBS, I'm feeling rather smug about myself. Hee hee.

Laura M said...

Dive, you almost make me want to move to England!

Petrea Burchard said...

Doesn't he though, Laura! His town sounds idyllic: "...many indie booksellers."

Speaking of small businesses, many bloggers are small business owners. Click on Shell's link, if you're so inclined. Then click on her web page and her store, which is her Etsy store. She creates the most charming prints, cards, etc. in her inimitable style.

I wonder how many others will check in here today who have small businesses?

Adele said...

Well, I don't have one, but I'm definitely going to hit some small businesses today! We're having a whole Whoville thing over here, so it's a great day to see what our locals are offering. I'm looking forward to it. Although, like you, I try to do this 365. I just don't usually have the Grinch nearby!

Petrea Burchard said...

Adele, Sierra Madre is full of charming small businesses. I hope you have fun!

Michael Coppess said...

Took me a second, but I get it -- the spider picture and last sentence. Very good! And thanks for the nod to SBS.

Bob Crowe said...

Save this one for Halloween.

We're way out in Kansas this weekend. From the look of the Walmart parking lot, the locals don't seem real excited about Black Friday, Saturday or any of that.

Ms M said...

Great photo (even if spiders give me the creeps)!
I didn't know about Small Business Saturday either. We have an organization here that plugs local businesses, and we try to shop locally when possible.
I'm not a small business owner, but I do work for a small local non-profit agency.

Petrea Burchard said...

Thanks, Michael.

Bob, I wonder if it's all just city hype. I remember the same "black Friday" stuff when I lived in Chicago but I don't think I went shopping then, either.

Ms. M, sorry to creep you out!

Bellis said...

Clever of you to combine a piece about Black Friday with a Black Widow spider! I'm pretty sure that's what it is - can't mistake those pointy front legs. It's truly a Hallowe'en photo.

I confess I did go to the mall on Black Friday for the vacuum cleaner of my dreams, reduced by one third, and affordable at last. It's my early Xmas gift and I'm loving it. (The Dyson Cordless Animal). For locally produced products, I love the Altadena Farmer's Market on Wednesdays from 3 to 7 pm. Home-made jellies, soap, olives, coffee, granola, and lovely food and fresh fruit and veg. The perfect place to stop after a sunset hike.

Petrea Burchard said...

I'm glad you got your Cordless Animal, Bellis. How were the crowds? Not to horrible, I hope.

The spider wasn't a Black Widow. I don't know what it was. It was dark colored, with white stripes across its legs. Very pretty.

Bellis said...

Aw shucks, I liked the idea of a Black Widow, though they usually prefer hiding places. JC Penney was good, with lots of helpful staff, and Target was emptier than normal. Not a bad experience at all.

Anonymous said...

There's a giant spider on the left and a Tyrannosaurus rex on the right. What are you trying to do, give me nightmares?

Petrea Burchard said...

Good publicity, Bellis.

Karin, the T Rex is a leaf. You're as bad as I am. I was certain our home was being invaded last night because a window was loose and I heard it move.

Desiree said...

I'm breaking out the broom as soon as I finish typing this--sheesh!

Petrea Burchard said...

Des, today, my back porch: biggest wolf spider ever seen in the history of wolf spiders. Welcome to soCal.

LONDONLULU said...

Hooray for SBS! We had this new 'holiday' here too - long may it live!

Margaret said...

Well, I didn't do any shopping at all. Opps I got some cookbooks. I got some cookies...

Petrea Burchard said...

Now that I think of it, we picked up some shampoo.

TheChieftess said...

No shopping for me on Saturday...still under the proverbial weather...but I prefer many of the small businesses on a regular basis!!!

Petrea Burchard said...

Feel better soon, Chieftess.