Shop small: Local owners set up shop for Small Business Saturday

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- As Black Friday winds down, many locally-owned stores are now gearing up for Small Business Saturday.

At Brazos Bookstore, Small Business Saturday won't start with a countdown for a crowd to rush in. It'll start with story time for kids, and then a very spirited day of business.

"We'll have drinks, coffee provided by Southside Espresso here in Houston and St. Arnold's Brewery beer and some wine for people to come and mingle, meet other book lovers, get excited for their holiday shopping and nobody gets trampled in the parking lot," says Lydia Melby.

Melby is the bookstore's Events Coordinator. She says there won't be any deep discounts here and most of their customers are alright with that.

"We're not selling them like cut-rate books. We're selling them actual books that people are going to love at the normal prices and they're supporting a business they love and come to all the time," she said.

American Express started Small Business Saturday in 2010 and it took off. Last year, a record 95 million people reportedly shopped small on this day.

"Saturday is shop small Saturday which has really been transformative for independent businesses. I think more than ever people think where they spend their money and uh, we are seeing the benefit from that, it's been fantastic," says Cactus Music owner Quinn Bishop.

Small business owners know the competition for your coins is fierce. Quinn Bishop is one of thousands of small business owners in Houston that hopes the little things you get shopping small are memorable enough to keep you coming back.

"When you shop here you're in the community of many people that love music and you're walking around the aisles and browsing with kindred spirits. And that's something you can't do online, and in most cases you can't do at a big box store," Bishop said.

Every small business owner can agree that they hope the new customers they get this year stick around for years to come.