PORT TOWNSEND — Once the remains of Thanksgiving dinner are put away, many will go shopping.
According to a survey by Deloitte — an auditing, consulting, advisory and tax services company — three-quarters of Americans plan to shop over the Thanksgiving weekend.
Some will begin with the Friday after Thanksgiving, known as Black Friday — the traditional day-after-Thanksgiving shopping splurge.
Port Hadlock Building Supply, 901 Ness’ Corner Road, will open early at 7 a.m. to offer Black Friday specials and games until 6 p.m.
The store plans a prize walk beginning at 8 a.m., a guessing game and various discounts, including 25 percent off one item.
Many retailers in Port Townsend will kick off the holiday shopping season Saturday for Small Business Saturday.
Small Business Saturday was started in 2009 and has become a national movement.
American Express started the shopping holiday as a way to promote its services for small businesses. However, the idea quickly caught on and has since become a November staple right next to Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
In 2016, an estimated 112 million consumers reported shopping at small businesses on Small Business Saturday, marking a 13 percent increase from 2015, according to a National Federation of Independent Business survey.
In Port Townsend, stores both downtown and uptown will stay open late Saturday, usually past 7 p.m. Some will provide snacks and beverages to go along with holiday shopping deals.
To celebrate the holiday season, the Wild Rose Chorale will carol from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. in Port Townsend.
Small Business Saturday encourages people to shop locally rather than online or out of town.
“We just really want to get across to people the importance of spending your dollars in town,” said Mari Mullen, executive director of the Port Townsend Main Street Program.
“These are local business owners, but they are also our friends and neighbors.”
Mullen said studies have also shown that money spent in local businesses tends to stay local and helps strengthen the area’s economy and community as a whole.
“Economic studies show that dollars spent locally recirculate significantly and benefit the community,” Mullen said.
“For every $100 customers spend at locally owned businesses, $68 will stay in the community. When the customers spends that same $100 at a national chain, only $43 stays in the community.”
Dawn Mohrbacher, owner of Bubble N Squeak, said she’ll serve wine, British beer and some treats, and is planning to put some holiday decorations on sale Saturday.
“We’re local people, so we’re all about supporting local,” Mohrbacher said. “It’s kind of about the community coming out and supporting people they want to see continue in the community.”
Small Business Saturday is also the kickoff to Port Townsend’s holiday events, according to Mullen.
This year’s theme is “A Flurry of Winter Fun.”
Businesses are competing for the best holiday window decorations, with winners announced Sunday.
The community holiday tree will be set up Monday by city staff, and Main Street volunteers will be out Tuesday morning to ready it for the tree-lighting celebration, scheduled for next Saturday, Dec. 2.
Coming up will also be the Main Street/Kiwanis Choo Choo Rides on Dec. 9; the gingerbread house contest, which will return to Aldrich’s Market, on Dec. 16; and the Yuletide Brass Ball, scheduled for Dec. 16. Holiday festivities will wrap up Dec. 31 with the First Night Celebration.
A full list of event is available at ptmainstreet.org.
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Jefferson County Editor/Reporter Cydney McFarland can be reached at 360-385-2335, ext. 55052, or at cmcfarland@peninsuladailynews.com.
