Wicker Park residents flocked to local businesses on Black Friday, opting for a more intimate shopping experience over the chaos of big box retailers.
On Milwaukee Avenue, streetwear boutiques like Supreme drew long lines, but many shoppers were in it for the unique experience rather than the deals themselves. Keri Smith and her partner Baron had been waiting in line at Half Evil for about 20 minutes before entering the store. Despite the slow-moving crowd, they expressed excitement for shopping local.
The couple visited Round Two vintage store earlier in the day, where they scored some good deals on their purchases. However, Keri said she plans to shop online at larger retailers during Cyber Monday for more basic items like Tupperware. Black Friday wasn't as special as it used to be, according to Keri, with many opting for the convenience of shopping online.
Mojo Spa owner Amanda Kezios was more concerned about the impact of a potential snowstorm on Small Business Saturday sales. The business had already seen significant drops in sales due to tariffs and economic uncertainty.
Tariffs have been a major challenge for small businesses like Mojo, which relies heavily on imported ingredients. A 10% tariff on certain extracts has added up quickly, making it difficult for the company to stay afloat.
Wicker Park Inn owner Laura Yepez also expressed concern about the impact of political uncertainty on her business. The federal government shutdown had led to cancellations and resulted in lower rates and shorter stays for some reservations.
The threat of ICE raids directly affects hospitality businesses like Wicker Park Inn, which has taken measures to protect its clean and cooking staff. Overall, Laura is concerned with the uncertainty in the economy, as it affects travel and tourism.
Small Business Saturday is expected to be a crucial weekend for many local businesses, but the challenges faced by owners like Amanda and Laura may have already put a dent in sales.
On Milwaukee Avenue, streetwear boutiques like Supreme drew long lines, but many shoppers were in it for the unique experience rather than the deals themselves. Keri Smith and her partner Baron had been waiting in line at Half Evil for about 20 minutes before entering the store. Despite the slow-moving crowd, they expressed excitement for shopping local.
The couple visited Round Two vintage store earlier in the day, where they scored some good deals on their purchases. However, Keri said she plans to shop online at larger retailers during Cyber Monday for more basic items like Tupperware. Black Friday wasn't as special as it used to be, according to Keri, with many opting for the convenience of shopping online.
Mojo Spa owner Amanda Kezios was more concerned about the impact of a potential snowstorm on Small Business Saturday sales. The business had already seen significant drops in sales due to tariffs and economic uncertainty.
Tariffs have been a major challenge for small businesses like Mojo, which relies heavily on imported ingredients. A 10% tariff on certain extracts has added up quickly, making it difficult for the company to stay afloat.
Wicker Park Inn owner Laura Yepez also expressed concern about the impact of political uncertainty on her business. The federal government shutdown had led to cancellations and resulted in lower rates and shorter stays for some reservations.
The threat of ICE raids directly affects hospitality businesses like Wicker Park Inn, which has taken measures to protect its clean and cooking staff. Overall, Laura is concerned with the uncertainty in the economy, as it affects travel and tourism.
Small Business Saturday is expected to be a crucial weekend for many local businesses, but the challenges faced by owners like Amanda and Laura may have already put a dent in sales.
compared to hitting up those big box retailers. plus u got that authentic wicker park vibe 
. but idk how many ppl are really down for cyber monday...i mean, who needs the rush? 
. and u know what's even worse than tariffs? not knowing what's next with ice raids 
. can't even get a stable business without worrying about the gov 
. hopefully small biz sat is the salvation we need 
. anyway, good luck to all those small biz owners out there! 
. I mean, Keri and her partner scored some sick deals at Half Evil, and the atmosphere was so chill 
. Plus, you can't replicate that personal touch with big box retailers 
. I'm still planning to hit up some online deals on Cyber Monday for basics, but for unique items like vintage finds or streetwear, Wicker Park is where it's at 
. Can't wait to see how Small Business Saturday goes – fingers crossed for all the local shops! 
! It's all about that intimate experience, you know? Supreme was hella busy, but it seems like some folks just wanted to hang out and check out the vibes 
. But I'm with Amanda on Small Business Saturday 
. And let's not forget about the ice on the streets, fam 
! We gotta keep an eye on those weather conditions so everyone can enjoy a fun day out 
.
Their businesses need a boost, not just a one-time weekend surge 
It's clear that as tariffs increase, sales go down 
So what can be done to help these small business owners? 
Until then, I'll keep supporting my local shops and encouraging others to do the same 
on Small Business Saturday sales? It's like, can't we all just chill for one weekend? 
Still, I'll give credit where credit is due – Keri and her partner were stoked to shop local in Wicker Park 
I'm so down for supporting my fave small shops on Small Business Saturday 
! Like, yeah they might not have all the discounts and deals, but it's about the unique experience and the fact that we're shopping local 
! And I feel bad for Amanda and Laura, their businesses gotta be through so much already with tariffs and government uncertainty 
Wicker Park's got some great local businesses, but if people keep optin' for the big-box deals, they're gonna miss out on what makes these stores so special 
. I think this trend reflects a growing desire for consumers to support local businesses, which can lead to a more personalized and meaningful shopping experience 
. However, the impact on small business owners like Amanda and Laura is still significant, with tariffs and economic uncertainty taking a toll on their operations 
. On Cyber Monday, I predict that online shopping will continue to be a major draw for consumers, but I hope Small Business Saturday can help alleviate some of the economic pressure 
.
. It's all about creating that unique experience and building community, right? The lines for streetwear boutiques might be long, but it's clear that many shoppers value the personal touch over just getting a good deal 
. Small Business Saturday is like a lifeline for them, so fingers crossed it brings in some much-needed support 
anyway, according to a 2020 survey by the US Census Bureau, there were 44% more sales on Small Business Saturday compared to Black Friday. maybe wicker park residents are onto something? 
also, did u know that in 2019, the average transaction value on Cyber Monday was $142 while on Black Friday it was $101? online shopping is def a thing now 
It's just too much for some businesses to handle. I'm all about shopping local and supporting our community, but at the same time, I get why people are opting for online deals 
. Also, has anyone else noticed how much harder it is to find affordable Tupperware nowadays? Like, what's up with that? 
and omg can you even imagine running a small business with tariffs? 10% of their ingredients costs added up quickly? that's some real talk 
. And it's sad that small businesses like Mojo Spa and Wicker Park Inn are struggling due to tariffs and economic uncertainty. Like, how can we even expect them to survive when the government is just throwing more obstacles their way