Saturday was Small Business Saturday and independent bookstores’ special Indies First day. Stores around the region strutted their small business stuff, and customers enjoyed a joyous kick-off to the holiday shopping season.
In McMinnville, OR, Third Street Books was part of the community-wide small business passport program. Brian Juenemann, executive director of regional trade association Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association, started at the bookstore and then spent the day shop hopping and was impressed by the crowds and the community spirit. Below are some of his photos from the bookstore. His comment: “What a great little town.”
At Queen Anne Book Company, 14 celebrity booksellers volunteered to give book recommendations and greet customers. The store hummed with activity all day, and according to store co-owner and manager Janis Segress, sales were the best of all the Indies First Small Business Saturdays so far.
Third Place Books in Seward Park, University Book Store, and Elliott Bay Books were stops on Sherman Alexie’s party bus of authors, and the response in person and on social media was tremendous. So much excitement! So many great authors! Such fun Indies First scarves!
Share your Indies first experiences in the comments. We’d love to hear about all your fun.
I was proud to be a featured author for my favorite indie bookstore, Village Books in Fairhaven. I’m a 34-year customer and love how my bookstore supports me as an author. Later in the evening, I wrote in the window as an early 20th-century hiker, part of the Red Wheelbarrow Writers’ effort to support Small Business Day.