MOSES LAKE — Mai Houvener wanted to make sure anyone looking for books to buy on Small Business Saturday knew exactly where to go.

The owner of Sandbox Bookstore in downtown Moses Lake, Houvener posted a fairly creative sign in front of the Smith Martin Building she share’s with Mason’s Place coffee house, Ties That Bind Yarn, Ag World Support Systems and other local businesses.

“This way books,” the sign said, with a big pink arrow pointing to the front entrance. Next to the arrow below pointing down Third Avenue, the sign read: “That way? Bears, maybe? We wouldn’t risk it.”

Whether it was due to the possible threat of bears or not, Houvener said it seemed business on Saturday was a little busier than usual, thanks in part to the 13th annual celebration of Small Business Saturday. It helps, Houvener explained, that she’s added new books to her inventory, as well as games, a place to make your own bookmarks, and impulse buys like harmonicas at the register to the bookstore’s large selection of used books.

“There’s just lots of foot traffic coming through and discovering us for the first time,” Houvener said. “So it’s good to see lots of new faces and also return people as well.”

Small Business Saturday was started by American Express in 2010 as a way to encourage cardholders and others to shop small businesses across the county and promote and support local retailers, according to the American Express website. In a survey following the 2021 Small Business Saturday event, American Express estimated small business sales that year nationwide reached $23.3 billion, nearly $4 billion more than was spent in 2019, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It’s going great,” said Breanna Verduzco, owner of Evalee Ray’s Plant Shop, of Small Business Saturday. “It’s been quite a blessing. It’s been a busy holiday season, especially with holiday plants, so it’s been exciting.”

Verduzco shares space in the Downtown Moses Lake Association’s Obra Project business incubator with landscape artist Hannah Fountain, soap and candle maker Liberate and Lather, The Tree Fort Children’s Museum and table-maker and woodworker Goathead Sawmill. The Obra Project gives small business owners a place to see if they can make a go of selling their wares before going out and renting their own space.

There were, however, a few extra tables at Obra with people selling cake pops, custom tee shirts, home-made earrings, and crocheted plushies, Verduzco said, as part of the association’s efforts to promote Small Business Saturday.

Elsewhere on Third Avenue, even with the threat of bears (or perhaps because of it?), people were out and about, enjoying each other’s company and spending some money.

“It’s been busier than a normal Saturday,” said Love & Lumber owner Jenna Hildebrand. “People are coming in having a glass of champagne and shopping … people are shopping for clothes, beanies and scarves.”

Hildebrand said Black Friday was also a good day for shopping as well.

“It’s been a really good week,” she added.

Charles H. Featherstone can be reached at [email protected].