While gearing up for Black Friday, don’t forget Small Business Saturday. Businesses in the Bridgeport community are opening their doors to shoppers, offering discounts, warm and friendly customer service and holiday refreshments.

 

Along the Main Street corridor, About You Monograms and The Starving Artist/Sanctuary are among participating businesses. Located beside the Lloyd Lang Bridge, the monogram shop is actually making it a two-day affair.

 

“We are going to celebrate Small Business Friday and Saturday,” said Lisa Lang, owner. “We’re open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days and we are giving surprise discounts at checkout.”

 

All the store’s popular personalized gifts will be available for purchase, including leather bags from Florence, Italy, Charles River fuzzy fleece pullovers, Christmas pajamas, tote bags, rain jackets and an array of other items.

 

“We also have really cute Santa cookie trays, West Virginia ornaments, scented Bridgeport and West Virginia candles and a huge jewelry selection,” Lang said.

 

Fabric, leather and even cups and mugs can be monogrammed on site this weekend, she said. Shoppers will also be treated to an array of sweets made by Torchia’s Italian Pastries.

 

Small Business Saturday provides her store and others with a special opportunity to serve locals with unique, high-quality gifts, Lang said.

 

Just across Main Street, The Starving Artist/Sanctuary will offer sales on items made by locals, including clever household accents and apparel, accessories and other personal items. Festive refreshments will be offered, said Amanda Leaseburg, co-owner.

 

Leaseburg encourages visitors. Small Business Saturday is a win-win for shoppers and the Bridgeport community.

 

“When you shop local, you are supporting your neighbors and the money goes back into the community,” she said.

 

East on Main Street, Riversong Spa is offering early-bird specials from 9 a.m. to noon. Gift certificates will be sold buy one/get one half price during those hours. All retail products will be offered at 15 percent savings and yoga memberships are half price, said Allison Clem, owner. Other special deals include a free skin care travel set with purchase of $350 gift card and various other membership specials.

 

Located on South Virginia Avenue, Artworks is located in the Shoppes of Averil Place and is geared up to offer locals a jump start on the holiday season. The holiday open house will feature refreshments including J&J sauces and dips, crackers, cookies, wassail and coffee, among other items. As always, the store offers free gift wrapping. All Christmas items will be offered at discount, as will gift items perfect for anyone’s merry little Christmas.

 

“I think people are looking for little gifts – sort of gesture gifts – that don’t make a person feel obligatory to give back, like a hostess gift,” said Lotus MacDowell, owner. “We have a lot of products that fit that need, like hand towels, wine stops, Christmas cookie tins and other items someone may not buy themselves but would really like and would use.”

 

An item that remains popular for gift giving is spoon jewelry - ideal for any age – tote bags and throw pillows; some which bear holiday messages.

 

“We also have gorgeous reversible coats – kind of casual ones – that you can flip back and forth,” MacDowell said. “They are knee-length and since they’re reversible, you’re really getting two coats in one.”

 

Pottery, glass ornaments, leather cubbies for keys and spare change are other suggested gift items. And, of course, framing a special photo or memento is always a good idea, MacDowell said.

 

“People bring in things such as war medals or a hand-crocheted item made by a family member,” she said. “We even had someone bring in a tennis shoe from when someone was little and we framed it with a photo – which gave it special meaning.”

 

Among other businesses opening their doors for Small Business Saturday and offering special deals are Almost Heaven Desserts, Main Street Fitness and Lizards and Lollipops.