BUCKHANNON – Did you know that small businesses – those with 100 or fewer employees – make up 98 percent of all businesses in Buckhannon?

What’s more, small businesses in the city employ more than half of the town’s private sector workforce.

That’s why city officials, in collaboration with the Buckhannon-Upshur Retail Merchants Association, recently proclaimed Saturday, Nov. 30 ‘Shop Small Saturday’ to encourage residents and visitors to patronize small businesses and local companies that day and throughout the holiday season.

So, while shoppers will surely survey the deals on Black Friday, Nov. 29, small businesses in Buckhannon are encouraging people to save some cash to pick up presents while taking advantage of some great deals that’ll be offered up Saturday.

Stone Tower Brews manager Courtney Page is starting their deals Friday, Nov. 29 with a discount on their hydro-flasks, new T-shirts and any of their DIY coffee items; they’ll also be selling gift cards for 10 percent off.

“Buckhannon as a small town really thrives from small businesses, and it’s important to support them so that we can stay small and unique,” Page said.

On Saturday only, Stone Tower Brews will be offering $2 off any order of tacos – and they’ll be giving out free stickers while supplies last that match the new T-shirts.

“We have local people – all of our staff are local people that are here – and we’re just a bunch of weirdos running a coffee shop,” Page said. “We like being here, and we definitely like being involved with Small Business Saturday and we like to support small businesses ourselves. That’s why we like to be partnered with Dough Re Mi and their baked goods because they’re amazing.”

Speaking of Dough Re Mi, shoppers should swing by the College Avenue coffee shop and bakery for the Buck-Town Pop-up at Dough Re Mi, where they’ll find local and not-so-local wares made by artisans and crafters. Pop-up hours are slated from 2-6 p.m.

Owner of Tateep Unique Boutique Lisa Hulver said the store will offer discounts throughout the store, give away door prizes and have a drawing for a $50 gift certificate.

“I have new, stylish, trendy clothing in the front end of the shop, along with jewelry, essential oils and Christmas décor,” Hulver said. “All my Christmas decor is also for sale. I’ve also added a new part to the shop, and it is in the back and it’s called ‘Worn Once Now Yours,’ so I have nicer name brand clothing that is gently used at a very good price and it has been doing quite well.”

She said the shop has new holiday hours and is now open seven days a week. Tateep Unique Boutique is open from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Fridays, the shop is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

“Small businesses are what keeps your small towns alive, so if you come in and support them, you’re downtown is going to stay alive,” Hulver said.

Co-owner of Jesterline Lacy Ramsey said the gaming center will be hosting a Black Friday sale with 50 percent off all game passes Friday, Nov. 29 and on Saturday, Nov. 30, they’ll offer 40 percent off all game passes.

“Shopping small helps the community, and it helps the owners, and that helps the downtown area thrive,” Ramsey said. “We love to see that; we would love for people to kind of hang out and support the businesses that are here so that we can stay here.”

Sara Bednarski, who works in the catering area of Fish Hawk Acres, said they will have Blenko glass available for Small Business Saturday.

“We will also have all of our gourmet foodstuffs, which are great stocking stuffers for the foodie in your life,” Bednarski said. “We have local jams from Weston, pickles, maple syrup, honey – all local goods.”

Owner of the Wooden Hanger Heather Harris the name of every person who makes a purchase Saturday will be entered into a drawing to win gift certificates.

“Our business was in Elkins, but we didn’t have foot traffic up there, and here we have the foot traffic and it’s been great,” Harris said. “When you support local businesses, you help us support our own families. We live here in Buckhannon, so the money we get goes right back into Buckhannon.”

Mary Malcomb, salesclerk at Anderegg Jewelers, said the jewelry store, which recently celebrated 69 years of being in business, will have multiple sales for Small Business Saturday, including 20 percent of off Pulsar, Seiko and Citizen watches. They will also have 20 percent off 14-karat gold jewelry, 20 percent off earrings and 20 percent off diamond jewelry. Owner Jake Anderegg recently opened a new online store; click here to check it out.