New Yorkers shop local on Small Business Saturday

The day after Black Friday comes Small Business Saturday, and New Yorkers were celebrating by shopping local.

“I love it! Are you kidding? You have to start small because the bag will get full, but it’s my favorite day of the year,” Dechelle Damien, a customer at Lockwood Style in Astoria, Queens, said.

The clothing and home goods store is part of Shop Small Astoria, a group of about 30 businesses participating in Small Business Saturday.

“We need them [mom and pop businesses] in our community, and I have been living in Astoria for 25 years, and having those small community stores are essential to who we are,” Damien said.

Damien says she tries to shop at 10 tp 12 stores every year.

Female-owned business Château le Woof, a dog cafe that sells merchandise like dog sweaters and dog necklaces, took part in the holiday hoping to drive up sales.

“It’s kind of magical to come down to the river, and see this cute little cafe, and this gorgeous park across the street, and spend your time here versus a big chain, or somewhere that’s overcrowded,” Julia DePinto, an employee, at Château le Woof, said.

DePinto has been part of Shop Small Astoria for about three years now, having worked for other small businesses in the neighborhood. She said she enjoys “seeing how tightknit our community can be.”

U.S. shoppers spent around $17 billion nationwide last year on Small Business Saturday, according to the Small Business Administration.

“It’s just great to come out and have places like this in the community, so I wanna come out and support them. I enjoy it, she enjoys it as well,” said Alex Bowsher, a customer at Château le Woof, referencing his dog with him.

Customers at 2nd Chance Candles say buying locally can be more satisfying than big box retailers or online giants like Amazon.

“When you shop on a big place like Amazon, you don’t feel like you’re getting the best quality, when you shop at a small business, you feel like you support people, and it’s really nice,” said 11-year-old Francesca Lauroni, a customer at 2nd Chance Candles.

She says she likes supporting other small businesses because her mother owns a small business herself.

The city is home to 183,000 small businesses across the five boroughs, according to the New York City Economic Development Corporation.