As other shoppers sorted through messy piles of clothing and ransacked aisles at big box stores Friday, Nov. 29, Becky Kennedy leisurely strolled through Vines & Stuff in Tryon checking off another item from her Christmas shopping list.

“I tell everyone I know to remember to buy local first. I mean my list is a perfect example; I’ve already bought half of it,” Kennedy said glancing down at her Christmas shopping list with many items crossed off. “Plus, shopping local snowballs. The shop owners get to live here and own a business and eventually some of the money they make helps our communities.”
Friday morning after Thanksgiving Tryon’s streets were tranquilly quiet, but by noon the street was alive with activity.
“We’ve had good business today,” said Lynn Cabral, owner of Panache Boutique, which had sales of its own up to 40 and 50 percent. “We’re hoping to be busy for Small Business Saturday too.”
Small Business Saturday this year is today, Nov. 30. The day was founded by American Express in 2010 and dedicated to supporting small businesses across the country.
Polk County Economic Development chairman Ambrose Mills said in a recent newsletter that the county has seen 140 new businesses start up in 2013. Many of those small businesses, such as Ali B’s Boutique in Columbus, Daniel Dry Goods in Tryon and Meanwhile Back in Saluda, among others, will be open to customers today and throughout the holiday season.
Studies have shown that when someone spends $1 in a local store, up to 64 cents of that $1 stays in the community.