Local Merchants Weigh in on Small Business Saturday

Each year Small Business Saturday encourages shoppers to stay local and support individual merchants in their area.

Merrick and the surrounding communities were built on the foundation of small businesses, from restaurants and hardware stores to clothing boutiques and animal care.

Canteen, a young women's clothing boutique, has been serving the shoppers of Merrick for more than 15 years. According to manager Gabriela Burgos, this year's busy shopping weekend brought in quite a lot of purchases.

"We didn't have any promotions for Small Business Saturday like we did last year, but it was much busier than usual," said Burgos, who has been selling the latest trends at Canteen since 2007. "We saw a lot of our regulars."

Burgos feels that in a small store like Canteen, the staff can form a rapport with their guests from the local area.

"Our clothes are sold in department stores, but we are able to build a relationship with our customers and really get to know them," Burgos explained.

Burgos also expressed her satisfaction with Small Business Saturday as a whole.

"Small businesses are important to the community," she said. "With the same people always coming in, I feel like it strengthens the community and our store. It's great to give back to them."

Heidi McCartney, former owner of Exotic Paws, passed on her small business to her daughter, Kristine McCartney, who re-located as Pampered Paws Grooming Salon within the East Bay Veternarian.

"Exotic Paws was robbed in May," explained Heidi. "We had such a large response to come back. We had customers from Manhattan coming to get their dogs groomed by us."

Though their business wasn't particularly effected from Small Business Saturday, the family knows the impact their personalized service has on consumers. At Pampered Paws, guests are recognized and known, a luxury that is hard to find at a large chain store.

"We offer a tender loving care for your animal," Heidi said. "My daughter will remember your name and your dog's name. Merrick is very comfortable leaving their dogs here."