Small Business Saturday successful for some

CHENEY - Small Business Saturday sales showed shoppers returning to some area businesses this year after more than 20 months of coronavirus restrictions.

The Owl Pharmacy in Cheney staff were surprised by the large turnout.

"There were more people than normal this year," Manager Marti Lockwood said. "And we actually made more money than we normally do.

People mostly bought gift items and Christmas decorations, she said.

"I don't think people realize that this event is being held all week, not just Saturday," Lockwood said, encouraging local Small Business passport holders to take advantage of ongoing in specials at area businesses.

Ree's Creations in Cheney saw a large influx of customers, as well.

"It was a huge turnout," owner Debra Nielson said. "People were buying a lot of holiday gifts such as mittens, holiday decorations, wine bottle toppers, soaps, candles, ornaments, jewelry."

Nielson was also surprised more customers didn't bring in their shopping passports to get stamped.

"I had a lot of shoppers, but I did not stamp very many passports, although I had double my usual sales that day," she said.

Nielsen said she usually gets between 5-10 sales a day and she easily had 25-30 on Saturday.

In Medical Lake, Fresh Design Gallery and Rentals, owner Holly Hoffman said Small Business Saturday was "average."

" I stamped, probably, five passports," she said.

The shop is a floral and gift shop which also offers paddle board and kayak rentals during the summer.

Hoffman said "people were mostly buying vintage gifts, like holiday decorations."

Roam Roasters owner Shelly Quigley said her business was booming at her coffee shop in Medical Lake.

"We did about four times our average daily business," Quigley said.

The most popular seller was the bagged Christmas blend coffee and the shop nearly sold out of Arabesque pastries, she said.

Quigley said the shop had about 200 customers and although she didn't see a lot of shopping passports, "the people who had passports were really excited about them," she said.