While most retail stores and malls were packed for Black Friday, Central Florida mom-and-pop shops were looking forward to Small Business Saturday.
Six years ago, Arlene Guess opened Encore Home Decor on Montrose Street in downtown Clermont. Her small business features new and resale items.
"We've seen a lot of growth since then," Guess said. "I think there may have been maybe three or four stores when I first started, and now we're up to eight as far as resale shops."
Guess and the other shop owners are now preparing for Small Business Saturday.
"We'll be serving mimosas, or someone will be doing cookies, maybe someone will have someone playing a harp or something like that, so it's a very cozy kind of a feel for downtown,” Guess said.
Shoppers such as Clermont native Hannah Crawford hope to find unique items during Small Business Saturday.
"We wanted to shop down here instead of the big stores,” Crawford said. "The things you can get in antique shops are so unique compared to stuff you can get in the bigger stores.”
Last year, consumers spent about $14 billion at small independent businesses, according to American Express, which launched the day in 2010.
To find a small business near you, head to https://shopsmallnow.americanexpress.com/ShopSmall?linknav=us-open-shopsmall-globalheader-map