'Small Business Saturday': How local businesses keep up with online shopping

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Small businesses across Central Texas celebrated Small Business Saturday.

It's become an annual tradition on the Saturday after Thanksgiving to encourage people to shop small and give their business to locally owned stores.

Data from American Express shows 83 percent of shoppers said they planned to do at least some of their holiday spending at an independently-owned business this year.

"You know we have over a couple 100,000 people in our city that work in small businesses," City of Austin Mayor Steve Adler said. "It's really the economic engine that makes our city work."

However, with the growing popularity of online shopping, more and more people are turning to the internet for their gifts. 

On Saturday, Adobe Analytics released new data showing Black Friday pulled in more than $6 billion in online sales; that's up nearly 25 percent from last year. 

"Things might be a bit cheaper online, but you're really supporting your local infrastructure when you shop here and at a lot of other small businesses," Ezra Ferrell said. "It's an experience that you can't get with just looking at your computer."

Ferrell has been an employee at the locally owned toy shop Terra Toys in Austin for the past four years.

"So much wonder and so much enjoyment," she said. "I think that's really something that you can't get online when you bring your kid in to make their Christmas list here, it's not the same as looking at a computer screen."

Longtime Over the Rainbow toy store employee, Sharon Linsalata agreed and said, "The experience; put that in capital letters because it makes a big difference."

Customers told KXAN they felt the same way. 

Christina Shaltz said shopping at Terra Toys became a tradition after her first son was born eight years ago. Now, the mother of three spends time with her family holiday shopping at the locally owned toy store. (KXAN Photo: Candy Rodriguez)

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Christina Shaltz said shopping at Terra Toys became a tradition after her first son was born eight years ago. Now, the mother of three spends time with her family holiday shopping at the locally owned toy store. (KXAN Photo: Candy Rodriguez)

"Sometimes I do shop online, but there's nothing quite like bringing the kids to the store and having them pick out their special item," Christina Shaltz said.

Shaltz spent Saturday shopping at Terra Toys with her family. She's been visiting the toy store since her husband introduced her to it 15 years ago. 

Kristi and David Lara show their one-year-old son, Kevin, around Terra Toys. (KXAN Photo: Candy Rodriguez)

Copyright 2018 Nexstar Broadcasting, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Kristi and David Lara show their one-year-old son, Kevin, around Terra Toys. (KXAN Photo: Candy Rodriguez)

"I like to see things and touch things," Kristi Lara said smiling. Lara said this holiday season will be special because it's the first time her one-year-old son will be able to enjoy Christmas after spending the majority of his first year in the hospital due to complications from being born premature. 

"I'm old and old-fashioned," Sharion Tanner said. "I just like to look at stuff and feel it in my hands."

KXAN caught up with Tanner at Over the Rainbow. The Pflugerville grandmother was shopping for her grandchildren, but said she enjoyed spending time in the toy store because it brought back fond memories of her own childhood.

Sharion Tanner shared the origin of her name. She said you won't meet many "Sharon's" who have an "i" in their name. She said the reason her name does is because her mother wanted it to be different from the rest. (KXAN Photo: Candy Rodriguez)

Copyright 2018 Nexstar Broadcasting, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Sharion Tanner shared the origin of her name. She said you won't meet many "Sharon's" who have an "i" in their name. She said the reason her name does is because her mother wanted it to be different from the rest. (KXAN Photo: Candy Rodriguez)

An employee at Terra Toys on W. Anderson said since the big-box toy store, Toys R Us, closed this past summer they have experienced a bit of an increase in sales, about five percent. 

However, Over the Rainbow employees said they haven't noticed any difference in their numbers. If anything, they tell KXAN business has been tight.

They are grateful to be back in business after almost closing for good earlier this year in January when rent got too high and had to move from their longtime Exposition Blvd. location. The new store is located on W. 38th Street. 

For a full list of locally owned businesses in Austin, click here.

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