Steady stream of shoppers on Small Business Saturday
CHERYL SCHWEIZER | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 8 years AGO
Senior Reporter Cheryl Schweizer is a journalist with more than 30 years of experience serving small communities in the Pacific Northwest. She began her post-high-school education at Treasure Valley Community College and enerned her journalism degree at Oregon State University. After working for multiple publications, she has settled down at the Columbia Basin Herald and has been a staple of the newsroom for more than a decade. Schweizer’s dedication to her communities and profession has earned her the nickname “The Baroness of Bylines.” She covers a variety of beats including health, business and various municipalities. | November 27, 2017 2:00 AM
MOSES LAKE — A sunny day and a chance at store specials attracted a steady stream of customers to downtown businesses on Small Business Saturday.
People were waiting outside when Sue Torrance opened the door at Sue’s Boutique, she said. (Coming along a few hours later and on their way to a different business, a pair of shoppers paused to look in the Sue's Boutique window. "We might just have to go in there," one remarked.)
“It’s been steady,” Torrance said early Saturday afternoon, a view echoed by Tara Zerbo, sales associate at Miller’s Jewelry.
Business was “not too shabby” by early afternoon, Zerbo said. “We’ve been pretty steady, actually." In the jewelry trade at least, business picks up as Christmas approaches, she said.
The concept behind Small Business Saturday is to promote local businesses that might be overlooked in the rush of Thanksgiving weekend shopping. But the Black Friday crowds also made it downtown – Torrance said her shop had did good business on Friday.
Business was steady at Red Door and its neighboring Red Door Cafe. “It’s been fun,” said co-owner Jan Thacker. “It’s really wonderful that people support small business.”
Carla Needham, owner of Body Benefitz, normally is closed Saturdays, but stayed open to give people a look at her new business. Business was a little slow in the morning, but it was a good way to get the word out, she said. Along with body treatment like massage, the shop sells soaps, handcrafted jewelry and other crafts.
Small Business Saturday is always fun, Thacker said. “Maybe it’s because people come down with the intention of supporting small businesses.”
ARTICLES BY CHERYL SCHWEIZER
More rain for Cascades, high winds for Columbia Basin this week
LEAVENWORTH — A second strong winter storm is projected to hit Washington this week, bringing heavy rains back to areas that were hard-hit by rain and flooding last week. Steve Bodnar, meteorologist with the National Weather Service office in Spokane, said rain is forecast to start Monday, but won’t last as long.
Revised Moses Lake ordinance designed to recover some MLFD costs
MOSES LAKE — An ordinance revision approved by the Moses Lake City Council will allow more consistent billing of insurance companies in cases of emergency response by the Moses Lake Fire Department. In certain circumstances, property owners or vehicle owners may be responsible for paying whatever emergency response costs are not covered by insurance. The revisions passed on a 6-1 council vote Tuesday, with council member Victor Lombardi voting no.
Quincy EP&O levy to go to voters
QUINCY — Quincy School District voters will be asked to accept or reject a four-year educational programs and operations levy in a special election in February. If it’s approved, it would replace the levy approved by voters in 2022. District superintendent Nik Bergman said money raised through the levy accounts for about 16% of the district’s budget. “The state doesn’t fully fund a lot of programs,” Bergman said. “It’s used to fund our highly capable (program) and STEAM enrichment. Some of it is used to fund special education, early learning, the arts, music. We have a music program that is just flourishing right now, and I can connect that to the community support of the levy.”