As shoppers head out for Black Friday deals, independent local businesses hope to be busy. It's a crucial time for local stores.
That's because 20 to 25 percent of retail shopping takes place in November and December.
Despite the importance of moving merchandise this time of year, most local stores opted to remain closed on Thanksgiving. Think Local First Interim Director Jud Branam says their organization endorsed the save Thanksgiving movement. "Preserve Thanksgiving as a day off and try not to let all the shopping activity kind of creep into 365 days a year of activity. It's really not necessary," Branam says.
While they took Thanksgiving off, many local businesses are participating tomorrow in the national Small Business Saturday campaign. Buy Local Week kicks off Friday, December 5th with Midnight Madness and Kindlefest in Ann Arbor and Starlight Spree in Ypsilanti.
Like 89.1 WEMU on Facebook and follow us on Twitter— Andrew Cluley is the Ann Arbor beat reporter, and anchor for 89.1 WEMU News. Contact him at734.487.3363 or email him acluley@emich.edu.