Small business owners ask community to shop locally during Black Friday weekend

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- As more people go shopping for the holiday season, small business owners in Colorado Springs are asking people to consider their stores as well.

Tina Schwaner, the owner of Frayla Boutique on Fountain Boulevard, says Black Friday usually marks the beginning of holiday shopping and increased traffic.

"I think it's sort of the day that kicks off the holiday vibes for people," Schwaner said. "So we're just hopeful that they think of small businesses not only big box stores for those things."

Saturday will mark the 10th anniversary of Small Business Saturday, a shopping holiday held during the Saturday after Thanksgiving.

Elaine Smith, a co-owner of Mountain Chalet downtown, says supporting your local business owners boosts the economy of your town.

"It keeps the money here in the Springs," Smith said. "It's the salary of your neighbors. It goes to taxes that pay for our roads and fixing our roads."

Schwaner also says many local business owners also choose to help local and international causes, allotting some of their income from purchases to go toward nonprofits.

"We have products that clean the ocean, that help women all over the world, that are very environmentally friendly," she said. "So everything at Frayla has an impact in some way or another."

As more people step into her outdoors-oriented store, Smith says she's hopeful for what the upcoming changes downtown will mean for local retailers and restaurants.

"A lot more housing being built here. A lot of the big projects like the Olympic Museum going on," Smith said. "So we do feel a resurgence back in downtown and we're really looking forward to the next few years here."