SARASOTA – Needless to say, the COVID-19 pandemic has had a wide-reaching effect over almost all aspects of the U.S. economy. Businesses predominantly affected are the hidden gems that give each city their unique personality.
This year shoppers have relied heavily on online deals instead of the traditional Black Friday shopping we’ve become accustomed to.
While some brick and mortar stores have had the revenue to avoid closing their doors permanently small business haven’t been so lucky.
“So many of us during the shutdown were pretty much out of business,” said Kim Livengood.
Traditionally the day after Black Friday, small business across the country gear up for their big moment in the spotlight. Small Business Saturday is a day when local businesses thank us for supporting them especially in the year of COVID.
“It’s our favorite day of the year. It is so important to shop local, shop small,” said Livengood. “We have all sorts of different offers, all of our vendors are doing something special.”
Livengood, owner of the Bazaar on Apricot & Lime, says the Bazaar was closed for two months. So Livengood thought of the Bazaar Shopping Network in order to promote the many businesses that call the indoor market home.
On the other hand Tess and Tim Craig decided to embark on a journey some would call crazy. They bought the Artful Giraffe on Fruitville Road in the midst of a pandemic.
“We really wanted to do something to thank the other small businesses, it is a pretty rough time for us,” said Tess.
With more than 250 artist featured at their store the Artful Giraffe has become a hub for local artists to still make a living despite not being able to host gallery shows.
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In the year of uncertainty many of the small businesses that make our community unique have closed their doors permanently.
The folks at the Bazaar and the Artful Giraffe agree that shopping local means supporting your friends and neighbors who’ve been impacted the most in a post COVID-19 world.
