Stores Grapple with Pandemic on Small Business Saturday

It was a very different Small Business Saturday in Willow Springs this year, which is hardly surprising. There are a few more empty storefronts downtown, as well as a few new businesses for shoppers to enjoy. The coronavirus pandemic has made its mark on every industry, and retail stores on Small Business Saturday were no exception. 
 
At Vintage Floral on Main Street, Black Friday sales took place on both Wednesday and Friday to prevent crowding in the boutique. In-store sales on Saturday drew a steady trickle of customers said the staff members. 
 
Down the block, the newly opened H&M Ranch Store experienced a Black Friday that was, “better than we expected,” said co-owner Sam Rosa. Their business on Small Business Saturday was “good.”
 
Outside the downtown area, businesses had mixed results. Brittany Cronin, owner of Zaelynn’s Toybox, did not see brisk business, she said. 
 
“All the bigger stores are encouraging online shopping this year,” she said, indicating that online shopping was taking a toll on her locally-owned brick-and-mortar toy shop. The news was not all bleak for her business, however. Cronin reported that her booth at Highway 60/63 Marketplace was doing well over the holiday weekend. 
 
At Highway 60/63 Marketplace, a vendor market and antique store with prominent highway frontage, clerk Debbie Smith reported that the Small Business Saturday business had been, “wonderful.”
 
“Willow Springs takes care of its own,” she said. Shoppers roamed the aisles in a steady stream during Howell County News’ visit. 
 
Both Tractor Supply Company and Waggoner’s True Value both had a healthy amount of customers browsing on Saturday. At Waggoner’s, owner Martha Stolba reported that Black Friday was “steady” and Saturday was “about the same.” 
 
Many of the stores in this article offer either online shopping or contact-minimal curbside service this holiday season providing a way to shop local even in a global pandemic.
 
 
by Amanda Mendez, publisher
 

Howell County News

110 W. Main St.,
Willow Springs, MO 65793
417-252-2123

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