PEABODY — After the madness at the malls and big box stores on Black Friday, local retailers get their day in the holiday sun with Small Business Saturday.
This year marks the eighth Small Business Saturday. Last year, an estimated 112 million Americans spent a combined $15.4 billion at independent neighborhood retailers and restaurants, according to a press release from the U.S. Small Business Administration.
“Small businesses are the engine of the national economy,” Linda McMahon, administrator of the Small Business Administration and co-founder of the WWE. “We now have in the United States about 30 million small businesses. About half of all American workers are either employed by a small business or own a small business. And two out of three new jobs are created by small business.”
In Peabody, Teresa Capela, the owner of Teresa’s Boutique on Main Street, said the shopping holiday has helped kick up business in the past.
“We’ll be offering a few sales on pocketbooks, dresses, and other items,” Capela said. “We usually have a big crowd so I hope it happens again this year.”
Capela and other local retailers and restaurants can also look to a potential bump in business on Saturday thanks to the city’s annual Holiday Stroll and Tree Lighting.
Some of the events scheduled throughout afternoon include a gingerbread house workshop at the Knights of Columbus at 96 Main St., a live nativity with barnyard animals at the Center Church on Washington Street, readings of the Night Before Christmas with Santa and Mrs. Claus at the Peabody Institute Library on Main Street, fire station tours, and dance music and prizes at the Courthouse Plaza.
The holiday events culminate with the tree lighting and caroling on the lawn of City Hall at 4:30 p.m., followed by a visit with Santa in the Wiggin Auditorium.
