Bow Market stores hosted Small Business Saturday last weekend, offering holiday shoppers a wide variety of gifts and decorations to celebrate the season. — Photos by Robert Posio

By Robert Posio

On Saturday, November 30, Bow Market hosted Small Business Saturday, a holiday of sorts, celebrating the spirit of community and local businesses in Somerville. The market, known for its eclectic mix of over 30 small shops, bars, and creative spaces, came alive with shoppers eager to explore and connect.

Small Business Saturday was started by American Express in 2010 in an attempt to drive more holiday shopping to smaller businesses. In 2011, the Senate unanimously approved a resolution endorsing Small Business Saturday, and by 2012, officials from all 50 states had joined in supporting the initiative.

“It’s nice to shine a spotlight on the people who are starting from the ground up,” said Megan Kilcoyne, the owner of Homme Repair, a tailor shop that specializes in clothing alterations and repairs.

For many of Bow Market’s stores, fostering a sense of community is as important as the products they sell. At Vinyl Index, a record store that has called the market home for six years, the emphasis is on building meaningful relationships with customers.

“You can come in here and ask for something, we’ll get it no matter what,” said Aaron Wetjen-Barry, an employee at Vinyl Index. “We bring knowledge and enthusiasm that you wouldn’t get if you were shopping from bigger or online corporations.”

Bow Market encouraged shoppers to explore its diverse selection of stores by introducing Bingo Cards. Shoppers earned a stamp for each purchase made at one of the market’s retail shops or vendors. Completing a bingo allowed participants to submit their card to be entered in a raffle for a gift basket worth over $125. Additionally, attendees can enter a different raffle by posting a picture from the selfie station to their Instagram.

In addition to this event, Bow Market hosted their annual Makers Market, an event where local pop-up vendors can showcase their work. The vendors were selling a variety of unique items including jewelry, artwork, and candles.

Katie Barry, the founder of Cosmic Coupe, showed off her artwork which was themed to a “dinner party in a different dimension” She was selling various home decor items that were plastered in her vibrant artwork along with a recipe book for cocktails and mocktails.

“The team at Bow has always been fantastic. They really provide people with a space to pop up and create their own universe.” Barry said.  “Whether they are doing pottery or art, it is really giving people a platform to express themselves and connect with the community”

Supporting small businesses this holiday season is crucial, especially as consumer spending is expected to decline. On average, shoppers plan to spend $294 at small businesses this year, a 40% drop from the $485 per person projected last year according to QuickBooks.

.Not only does shopping at local businesses provide a way to connect with members within a community, it is a way to support the local economy. About 67 cents of every dollar spent at a local business stays within the community according to Business Wire. This money can create opportunities for other residents within the community.

“Shopping small is a great way to remind people that we are helping our neighbors.” These are people that all live in the greater Somerville area,” said Zola Coleman, an event director for Bow Market. “These businesses are important to keeping our neighborhoods diverse, to keeping our neighborhoods exciting, and to shop in a way that stays in our community.”

This year, the US Chambers of Commerce is teaming up with American Express to start a grant program to help small businesses that were affected by Hurricane Milton and Hurricane Helene. American Express will donate $1 for every purchase made with an American Express card at qualifying small businesses.

Bow Market is furthering its commitment to supporting small businesses with the launch of the Merriest Month Campaign, running from November 30 through December 24. The campaign will feature holiday-themed events and fundraisers at various stores throughout the market, continuing to celebrate and support the community. For more information about the Merriest Month Campaign, visit Bow Market’s official website: https://www.bowmarketsomerville.com/themerriestmonth.