BETTENDORF, Iowa — Before we all go shopping online on Cyber Monday, some were out on Saturday, November 25, shopping local for Small Business Saturday. One store flooded with customers was Zero Waste Reserve, which shares a storefront with Crafted Quad Cities in Bettendorf and sells environmentally friendly products for one's body and home.
Store Owner Kelsey Pisel says it's been tough competing with the big box stores and online retailing.
"We're not having a lot of customers come in lately, it's been kind of slow," Pisel said. "So this is a really big weekend for us."
Pisel's store was solely online for a year before she decided to share a space with Crafted QC. She still offers an online service and delivery to give her customers as many options as possible.
"It is really convenient for customers to shop from home, but they can also do that with our store," Pisel said. "So we really try to stay competitive and offer the same thing that those big box stores can."
On Small Business Saturday, Pisel offered double loyalty points for her customers, and Crafted QC had a sale offering customers 15% off all purchases.
"It's important for me to shop here because one, I'm supporting the small business, and two, just trying to eliminate waste at our house is important to me and do what we can to keep things out of the trash and out of the landfill," shopper Amy Hurd said.
Customer Laura Whittnebel shared the same sentiment. "If you don't shop local these businesses won't be around, your friends might be going out of business," she said. "So I think it's super, super important to do it."
According to American Express, consumers spent an estimated $17.9 billion shopping at independent retailers and restaurants on Small Business Saturday in 2022.