LYNN — Beyond Black Friday, there is Small Business Saturday, and the organization behind the city’s mural festival had shoppers roaming Lynn’s streets in branded apparel.
Even though Black Friday has become the unofficial kickoff of the holiday shopping season, shoppers could also expect to find deals from mom-and-pop operations in their communities on Small Business Saturday. Beyond Walls, the creative placemaking non-profit, played its part in boosting community pride during their Munroe Street Garage Sale.
“This is great because it’s benefiting Beyond Walls and everything they have done for Lynn,” said John Kibbey, a Beyond Walls volunteer. “They’re trying to bring people into the city and it’s a great organization.”
Kibbey started volunteering last year, after he was approached by the organization about using the back wall of his Spring Street building for a mural. The most recent mural festival, which ended in August, had Kibbey putting in about 90 hours a week in volunteering, he said. Saturday morning, he got to Munroe Street at 8 a.m. so he could start setting up the event.
The Beyond Walls garage sale offered discounted cans of spray paint, $5 for one can, $40 for 10, and used ones for free; various logo t-shirts for $5 and $10; hooded sweatshirts for $15; and tank tops for $10. The Small Business Saturday deal took the original prices of each of the items and cut them, mostly, in half. The cans of paint were originally $7, t-shirts were $20, sweatshirts were $30, and tanks were $20.
Kristen Standish, a Nahant resident and longtime Beyond Walls supporter, stocked up on her favorite colored t-shirts and sweatshirts. She even walked back to the mural festival’s storage space and picked out a few cans of spray paint. She was looking for the right color to top off her wrought iron furniture, she said.
“I love Beyond Walls,” said Standish. “I’m a big fan of what they are doing in the downtown area. My whole family is from Lynn.”
Standish’s love for the organization goes further than just admiration. She hosts a karaoke night on the last Friday of every month at April’s Pub & Grill in Lynn, with all the proceeds going to Beyond Walls. The next karaoke night is on Nov. 30.
Julia Midland, Beyond Walls’ program manager, said the garage sale was a lot busier than she expected and for that, she was grateful.
“The proceeds from this help us support our mission,” said Midland. “It will help with future mural festivals, if there’s an interest for more in the city.”
While Small Business Saturday gave communities like Lynn a nice boost, the holiday spirit is only beginning. Shoppers can bargain right from home with Cyber Monday and they can also contribute to nonprofits and charities, with cash or by volunteering, on Giving Tuesday.
