Small Business Saturday Success

It's the newest retail holiday that gives small businesses, big business.

"There's probably about 50 in here consecutively," Bayli Raben, an employee at Riff Raff on the Fayetteville Square.

"We've been really having a great time at all the small stores," Erin Sheehan said, who made a point to shop local this season.

Small Business Saturday is like Black Friday but with a much more narrow focus.

"I think it's definitely a great idea to support small businesses. It helps our economy so it's for sure a great thing," Raben said.

In fact, in 2009 CNN Money named Fayetteville one of the best places to launch a small business.

"I was so excited to get out here and do this I feel like after black Friday everybody talks about all the big stores that have all the advertising dollars and I wanted to get out here today and support the local businesses as much as I could," Sheehan said.

Shops like Riff Raff said being small allows them to tailor their products.

"I think it's a little bit more personalized, it's not so mass production. It has things that Fayetteville people are specifically wanting," Raben said.

That might be the key to keep folks coming back.

"I definitely think that this is a great thing for our small business and it's really helped us," Raben said.

But shopping small doesn't end Saturday, managers hope the spotlight will bring back new customers.

"We've been to probably 4 or 5 stores and everyone is so friendly and personable and I don't get that anywhere else. I really enjoy talking to the people, why they order what they do, I have such a better experience than anywhere else," Sheehan said.