PRAIRIE VILLAGE, Kan. — Small businesses around the Kansas City metro area are gearing up for the biggest shopping day of the year, Small Business Saturday, which was created by American Express to encourage shoppers to shop locally.
“They’re great people and very knowledgeable. The toys are great for people of all ages. You can give an employee an age range and they’ll pick something,” Marguerite Fegan said.
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She has shopped at The Learning Tree since it opened in 1996. Fegan is entering her 28th year supporting the business.
“I’m shopping for a neighbor boy who wanted to get some candy pillows,” she said. “They have a wide selection and their prices are just as comparable as buying from Amazon.”
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The US Small Business Administration offers tips for shoppers on how to participate in Small Business Saturday. The SBA cites American Express shopper spending data, reporting that profits on Small Business Saturday have dropped $184 billion since 2010.
The Missouri National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) told KSHB 41 that its Small Business Economic Survey saw an uptick in optimism heading into Saturday.
Ryan Gamboa/KSHB
“We always look at the fourth quarter as one of the most important for small business,” explained Brad Jones, NFIB Missouri State Director.
Optimism stems from shoppers hitting local brick-and-mortar stores hard from September to October, while economic trends since the COVID-19 pandemic have taken a toll on small businesses financially.
“Inflation is one of the main points of small business. It’s Econ 101. If you’re going to have to pay more for your products, you’re going to have to pay more for your labor. You push the balloon, you have to go out somewhere,” Jones said.
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The Learning Tree is celebrating its first year under new ownership. Goodwin relies on the care and expertise of its employees to maintain its credibility with customers.
“This is really a place for all of Kansas City and even people from out of town,” Goodwin said. “The reason why it is special is because of the connections we make, the service we offer and the care we take.”
Brian Luton/KSHB
The Learning Tree offers customers a state-of-the-art ‘Slime Wall’, gaming tables and free gift wrapping.
“There’s always new things here that I’ve never seen before and quite a bit of activity,” said Blakely Molecek, a frequent shopper. “I asked my parents for Christmas if I could get something here… it’s a world of toys for children.”
Brian Luton/KSHB
Jones says the sense of commitment small businesses provide to rural and metro communities is unmatched.
“This is an opportunity for everyone to come out and thank small businesses that do what they do. I’m not just talking about being a business. I’m talking about sponsoring uniforms for Little League teams or sponsoring 5Ks .” said Jones. “They’re getting hit almost every day, if not every week, for donating a gift certificate, a silent auction to sports groups, middle schools and high schools…they’re the kind of glue that holds communities together together and keeps those uniforms on the kids.”
Brian Luton/KSHB
The Learning Tree’s dedication to customer service is what has kept Fegan’s coming back for nearly three decades.
“They want to provide products that local customers want,” Fegan added. “If you don’t support small businesses, they won’t be here in the future.”
The Learning Tree isn’t the only local business participating in Small Business Saturday this weekend. For more information on small businesses in your community, contact your local Chamber of Commerce via phone or social media, or click here for a list of Missouri Chamber of Commerce members.
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“Small Business Saturday is a really special day,” Goodwin added. “We appreciate it when people want to shop at a small business. We work hard to be the best at what we do. If you want the best experience, we hope you’ll come here, and if you want the best selection, we hope you will come here”.
For more information on products and classes at The Learning Tree, click here.
KSHB 41 reporter Ryan Gamboa covers Miami County in Kansas and Cass County in Missouri. Share your story idea with Ryan.
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