Photo by Michele Newbanks Poinsettias in a variety of shades of yellow and red were sold Friday as people started decorating for Christmas.

Shoppers came out in droves for Black Friday sales, but Small Business Saturday is shaping up to be big for local businesses in Marietta.

“We had a great day today,” said Charlie Clay, owner of Dad’s Primitive Workbench. “People were in buying Christmas decorations and new clothes.”

He said some people said they were shopping on Friday as they would be out of town for Saturday’s small business sales.

“Our big Black Friday is Small Business Saturday,” Clay explained. “(Saturday) is the big day for most of us in downtown.”

Stephanie Starkey with Putnam Chocolates said they were “over the top busy” on Friday.

“We had the store full and people were standing on the sidewalk,” she said. “We’re always busy, so this is a typical Black Friday for us. (Saturday) will be even busier.”

She said it was a revolving door of shoppers all day.

“Some are doing Christmas shopping. Others are coming in saying it was for them,” Starkey said.

People were visiting family for Thanksgiving and stopped to buy a Christmas gift for themselves or to take back home.

Jon Neff, store manager with Bob’s Market and Greenhouse in Belpre, said they had a busier than usual Black Friday.

“Being a small business on Black Friday … typically we don’t have a lot of foot traffic,” Neff said. “This year was different. It’s been a lot busier.”

He said they were excited with the amount of sales on Friday and “people were excited to be out.”

He said they had a lack of business last year because people weren’t buying items for their churches or dinners, but people seem to want to get back to that this year.

“They seem to have a better grip on things this year,” he said. “There’s been a big uplift on poinsettia sales. Today’s the kick off. You’re inside the Christmas tree season now.”

He said they have about 100 standing Christmas trees with another 100 as backup. The first five customers of the day bought trees.

“People know there’s a tree shortage and wanted the cream of the crop,” Neff explained. “We sold about a dozen trees within 45 minutes.”

Michele Newbanks can be reached at

mnewbanks@mariettatimes.com.