Downtown Scranton pop-up shop hosts Small Business Saturday and other weekend events through Dec. 21
From a press release:
After launching on Nov. 16, a seasonal pop-up retail store with a variety of local products is gearing up for Small Business Saturday in downtown Scranton with its own spin on the national event.
Pop Up! Downtown will celebrate Small Business Saturday on Nov. 30 from 11 a.m.-7 p.m., though they’re calling it “Small Business SaturBae,” as local female DJs SaturBae will be playing music in the shop from noon-2 p.m. There will also be a free photo station with Mrs. Claus from 3 p.m.-5 p.m.
Pop Up! Downtown is a brick and mortar shop located at 343 N. Washington Avenue, just across the street from Scranton City Hall. Their mission is to provide a unique holiday season shopping experience in the Electric City featuring local women-owned small businesses like GypsyJane Vintage, Laurabee Studios, Newkirk Honey, The Post Home and Body, Tinton Pots & Plants, artwork by Joy Zavada, and photography by Cristin Powers.
Every weekend through Christmas, they will be offering a variety of quality goods, including artwork, vintage clothing, local honey, natural home and body products, jewelry, and plants. The shop is only open on Fridays and Saturdays from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. and Sundays from noon-4 p.m., with special events each weekend.
“The makers of the Pop Up! Downtown holiday season retail experience have a love for giving local gift during the holiday season. They came together to offer a shopping experience that will be filled with local items for everyone on your list. They want to the space to be a place where you can treat the special ones in your life, but also as a community space to bring people together to enjoy the arts and create together,” a press release stated.
Upcoming Pop Up! Downtown events:
Saturday, Nov. 30: Small Business SaturBae with SaturBae – noon-2 p.m.
Photos with Mrs. Claus – 3 p.m.-5 p.m
Friday, Dec. 6: GypsyJane Fashion Show – 8 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 7: Plant Propagation with Tipton Pots & Plants, noon-2 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 14: Friends of the Pop Up! – details to come
Saturday, Dec. 21: Candle Make & Take with The Post – 1 p.m.-4 p.m.
First observed on Nov. 27, 2010, Small Business Saturday is a counterpart to Black Friday and Cyber Monday, which feature big box retail and e-commerce stores, respectively. By contrast, Small Business Saturday encourages holiday shoppers to patronize brick and mortar businesses that are small and local.
The first event was created by American Express in partnership with the nonprofit National Trust for Historic Preservation, Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino, and Roslindale Village Main Street. In 2010, the holiday was promoted by Amex via a nationwide radio, television, and social media advertising campaign.
In 2011, the Senate unanimously passed a resolution in support of the day, and officials in all 50 states now participate. Many local politicians and small business groups in the United States issued proclamations concerning the campaign. In 2013, more than 1,400 individuals and organizations signed up as Neighborhood Champions to rally and support their local communities with events and activities on Small Business Saturday. By 2018, there were more than 7,500 Neighborhood Champions across all 50 states.
Over the years, Small Business Saturday spending has now reached a reported estimate of $103 billion since the day began in 2010, according to American Express.
