By: Hollie Hojek
hhojek@kcautv.com
It's the second year in a row, store owner Kelli Engel has participated in small business Saturday. Engel opened up her "alainn" boutique on historic Pearl Street a little over two years ago, and loves seeming customers walk in the door.
"It's nice to see new customers and returning customers participating in small business Saturday and really trying to keep dollars local," said Engel.
Small business Saturday got started back in 2010 by American Express, to encourage shoppers to support local businesses.
"We came from the Ugly Sister, and now we're here at Alainn, and we're going next door to Funkalicious," said shopper Bev Lessman.
Lessman, a small business owner herself, is all for supporting local stores, and says it should happen more than just one day a year.
"That first three-to-five years is huge to get going and keep your clientele built up."
Just next door on Pearl Street is a brand new boutique called Funkalicious. Lori Steckle opened her doors just a week ago, and says it's great to see shoppers moving away from Wall Street to take a walk down Main Street.
"It's awesome to be able to stay in Sioux City and not have to go to Omaha or Sioux Falls, and keep the money here," says Steckle.
And people in town say the best part about shopping local is, the one of a kind items in every store.
"It's a win win situation. You walk out with something that's unique and different in comparison to what you'd find at a Target or Walmart. And on the same side of the coin, you're supporting people in your own community," said shopper Megan Stiles.
Engel says even after nearly two years of being on Pearl Street there are some people in Sioux City that still doesn't know the store exist , so it's events like this that really do help spread the word.
"If I know about it, then my customers know about it too, so I think the dollars in small business just equate to... if they're spending money at my small business they're spending money at other small businesses and all of that contribute to the success of our community," said Engel.
According to American Express, more than 100 million Americans participated in Small Business Saturday last year.
