Small Business Saturday a day well spent

Of course, I support all of that, but this year, I want to focus on why I will be going out again on Small Business Saturday. It was just plain fun.

Last year, my mom and I started the day with coffee and pastries at Nichole’s Fine Pastry, 13 8th St. S., Fargo. Then, we parked our car downtown on one side of Broadway, and we went in every single store – well, practically every single one. And what was more incredible, we purchased something at every single store – well, practically every single one.

I remember everything I purchased because it was, as previously stated, an incredibly fun day that’s stuck with me. But I also took a photo of my loot because I felt like Julia Roberts after she shops on Rodeo Drive in “Pretty Woman,” laden with packages of various shapes and sizes.

Here’s what I bought:

• A plaid infinity scarf from Aendee (5 8th St. S., Fargo)
• A polka-dot scarf from O’Day Cache (317 N. Broadway)
• A sweater with a deer head on it and lip balm from Proper & Prim (315 N. Broadway)
• A candle, pair of plaid pants and a bright-green button-down shirt from SHANNALEE (313 N. Broadway)
• A chain necklace by Chelsea Raine at ecce (216 N. Broadway)
• A mosaic piece of art by Kathy Luther from Gallery 4 Ltd. (inside the Black Building at 114 N. Broadway)
• A water bottle from Outermost Layers (518 N. Broadway)
• A felt headband and quilted bag from Unglued (408 N. Broadway)
• Holiday cards from Zandbroz (420 N. Broadway)
• A “Love ND” T-shirt from TAG (http://tagfargo.com)
• A blue zippered dress from Fowlers (210 N. Broadway)
• A gift certificate from Mezzaluna (309 Roberts St. N.)

And that doesn’t even include what my mother purchased. I was a little embarrassed to admit to someone later that I had done all this shopping, and everything – except the water bottle, the felt headband and the gift certificate – was for me.

Plus, I got to spend the day with my mother, which is always a present, and we really dove into the intent of Small Business Saturday. She mentioned more than once that it was like we were shopping in a Currier and Ives painting. People were everywhere, and the spirit was high.

In SHANNALEE, my mom stopped a stylish young woman to ask where she had gotten her fabulous knit headband. She responded, “Oh, one of these darling stores somewhere downtown. I’m not from here, so I can’t remember the name.”

Determined to have one, too, we retraced our steps, went back to practically every single store and were disappointed to find out they had all sold out. We did pick up a few other things on the re-tracing, though, so all was not lost.

It’s important to remember that downtown Fargo is not the only place where this can be done, too. Both the Moorhead Center Mall and West Acres have independent shops and artisans inside their doors. Many of our floral shops, coffee shops, chocolate shops, antique stores, and restaurants and breweries are locally owned. Don’t forget the gift shops inside Plains Art Museum, The Rourke and The Historical and Cultural Society of Clay County, too.

Or try this: Call your favorite artists this week and set up appointments to visit their studios on Saturday to make your purchases then.

This year, take up the challenge and spend Saturday together with someone you enjoy, shopping only at locally owned stores.

I am already anticipating the fun of Saturday morning when I will again pick up my mother. We will again park the car, grab an excellent cup of coffee and make our way to every single store – well, practically every single one – and enjoy the fun of a day well spent.

I hope to see you there.

This article is part of a content partnership The Arts Partnership has with The Forum or Fargo Moorhead and was originally published November 24, 2014.