Small Business Saturday is Tracy Alaia’s favorite day of the year.
“It’s so nice to see the community out and about supporting all of these great small businesses,” said Alaia, 52, of Level Green, who owns Feathers Gift Shop in Irwin.
Created by American Express in 2010, Small Business Saturday takes place annually on the Saturday after Thanksgiving in an effort to drive more support and shopping toward local businesses, according to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
In Irwin, the tradition has enabled the community to come together.
“There’s so much that Irwin has to offer,” Alaia said. “Between the shops, the boutiques, the restaurants — it’s a hidden gem.”
With cold temperatures in the 20s, she said foot traffic was a little slower than usual Saturday morning.
“People are just real happy; they’re out and about, families grabbing lunch, coffees; it’s nice to see everybody together,” Alaia said. “It’s been steady ever since, but I think it’s so cold that people waited.”
Small Business Saturday gives Feathers Gift Shop and other local establishments a way to be noticed, she said.
“People bring relatives and friends and family,” Alaia said. “I’ve had a lot of customers that have never been in Irwin before, so that’s nice.”
Robyn Tedesco, owner of The Line Boutique, said local business owners hope to draw people back into town after seeing what Irwin has to offer on Small Business Saturday.
“It really does bring the community out to support all of the local stores,” she said. “Sometimes people didn’t even know our store was here, but they come out on ‘Small Business,’ and they walk around town. And we hope to bring them back again.”
Tedesco of North Huntingdon said she was surprised to see how many people were coming into her store in spite of the cold weather.
“It’s always a concern — you never know what the weather’s going to hold,” she said. “People are still coming out in droves.”
If they didn’t want to brave the cold, people could shop online, too, Alaia said.
“I think there’s an experience you get when you go to a boutique and a small shop. It’s more like an event — and people lose themselves when they’re in here,” Alaia said.
She said she’s gained friendships by talking with customers.
“Anybody can sit at home and order from their phone; but coming out, you get to know people,” Alaia said.
Alaia and other local small business owners like Ron Palarino stay in contact throughout the year, and they wished each other good luck Saturday morning before the busy day ahead.
“We all get along great,” said Palarino, 58, of Irwin, who owns Gift Basket World & Candy Shop featuring Sarris Candy. “We talk, we help each other out. … And that’s what’s really nice about the small businesses in downtown Irwin — that we are all one big happy group.”
Palarino said he saw a good amount of people show up to Small Business Saturday as of 1 p.m., which was similar compared to previous years.
“I thought the cold was going to scare them away, but … people are out,” he said. “They got their hot chocolate and hot coffees, and they’re walking around.”
Small Business Saturday allows local Irwin businesses to boost their sales each year, Palarino said, and holiday morale is up he noted, as holidaythemed music played in stores.
Both Palarino and Alaia said storefronts are rarely open before a new business claims a vacant spot in Irwin.
“It’s a great place to be,” he said, referencing Irwin’s local business culture.
Foot traffic from downtown Irwin events helps to boost sales, and Palarino said he believes shopping in Irwin is on the rise.
“I’m an online shopper myself, but I do see that the people are coming in, and the last couple years, it has not decreased for us,” he said. “It’s also how we market and treat people here.”
As a local Realtor in Irwin, Theresa Simonetta came out on Saturday to support the community.
Simonetta, 48, of North Versailles works as a Realtor at Century 21 Fairways Real Estate, said she did some big shopping on Black Friday. But on Saturday in Irwin, she was able to get more personal gifts.
“It’s always nice to come and find the little extra trinkets that you need and the individualized presents,” she said.
Though Irwin isn’t always her go-to shopping destination, Simonetta said she likes to come during the holidays.
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“Just to come and have the experience of the individual shops, you don’t get the everyday hustle and bustle of the big box stores,” she said. “Everybody is just trying to make a living, and it’s nice to support the ones who want to stay and are dedicated to the town.”
However, Simonetta said people should try and shop local more throughout the year instead of just during the holiday season.
“Everyone needs to be supported throughout the year,” she said. “People are shopping local more during holidays.”
Despite the cold weather, Simonetta and other shoppers like Sue Sula weren’t deterred from venturing out for Small Business Saturday.
“I just wore a warmer coat,” said Sula, 68, of Monroeville.
She owns Artex Designs, a custom clothes printing and embroidery business in Monroeville.
“I, myself, own a small business in Monroeville, so I’m all about giving back to small businesses,” Sula said.
Irwin is a town she said she enjoys visiting.
“I love this little town,” Sula said. “We just enjoy the quaintness of it — you can walk around, and everybody’s so friendly.”
Alaia said she hopes shopping in Irwin grows even more in popularity moving forward.
“Small towns are wonderful,” she said. “It’s a nice place to go and eat and walk around and meet friends and find unique gifts.”