New Jersey shoppers do their part to support local shops on Small Business Saturday

Many shoppers across communities in New Jersey came out early to support local shops on Small Business Saturday.
Each year, the retail holiday encourages shoppers to support small businesses. It’s sandwiched between Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
Inflation is the back drop for this holiday shopping season but the brick and mortar stores are fighting back. Most New Jersey downtown neighborhoods offered some form of promotion for their customers. Retail stores, cafés and even arcades offered a freebie for everyone.
"We are doing a buy one, get one on all of our tickets, both hourly and day pass," said Arianna Caiola, assistant manager of YesterCADES.
"This is one of our busier days of the year. We usually give a better discount on this day. We hope that people don't go to the malls and come into our shop," said Nelson Sa, owner of American Shoe and Luggage Shop.
For many small businesses, fourth-quarter sales could make all of the difference between hanging on or shutting their doors.
Montclair was one Garden State community where residents shopped at their local businesses.
"We struggle just like everyone else but we have a really resilient community here," said Jason Gleason, of the Montclair Center Business Improvement District.
"The only place I'll shop is in Montclair," said community business owner Ed Gold. "It's so important for us to support our local business."
Last year, Small Business Saturday sales topped $23 billion nationwide.