WASHINGTON D.C., DC — Many folks started their holiday shopping this year on Black Friday, and continued to buy gifts for loved ones through Small Business Saturday. It’s the chance to celebrate small businesses and all they do for their community.
The holiday bustle is a boon for Dog Tag Bakery in Georgetown, which capitalizes on Small Business Saturday with a 15% discount for holiday shoppers.
"I like the holidays because I like the idea of giving," said shopper Leroy Nesbitt of D.C. "We should all give something to people every day."
The dollars spent at the bakery go back to the community, specifically to local veterans, who can participate in a unique business school run out of the bakery.
"Our bakery here serves as part of our nonprofit, where its a living business school ten months out of the year for veterans, spouses and caregivers to find purpose and community outside of military service," said Director of Operations Deangelo Gamble.
Businesses in Chinatown and Gallery Place have cited office vacancies, declining foot traffic, and increased crime as challenges for D.C.'s economy this year. But Georgetown remains a shopping destination.
Rocio Quesada visits D.C. every December after moving to Spain, and still prefers to shop in D.C.
"We're used to doing our shopping here, we love it and we love the Black Friday and all the sales and also to get something different, it's special," said Quesada.
More than a third of shoppers said they planned to shop on Small Business Saturday, according to a Shopify survey.
"The small business dollar, the fact that it circulates, and the fact that in a small business situation, people know the owners, and those owners become part of the community and we need business to be connected to community," said Nesbitt.
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