It was a big weekend for small shops who kicked off the holiday shopping season in DeWitt.
- DeWitt small businesses had strong Saturday morning turnout but snow slowed afternoon traffic
- Business owners report sales down 30% this year due to economic challenges
- Rising costs and tariffs making this holiday season crucial for small shop survival
WATCH: DeWitt businesses face challenges during holiday shopping season
DeWitt small business owners say the holiday rush brought customers out, but snow did have an impact. I spoke with Nicolette Skerratt, owner of Twisted Craft Cocktails, about how the weekend played out.
"Saturday was great. We had a huge turnout earlier in the morning. And a little bit later in the day, it started slowing down as the weather started," Skerratt said.
Skerratt hopes this momentum will carry through the holiday season - one that is coming at a pivotal time. Many area business owners continue to face challenges that are impacting the bottom line.
"I've talked to many other small business owners, and many of them are saying that sales are down at least 30% this year," Skerratt said.
Skerratt says rising costs and tariffs are putting financial pressure on her business and many others, making this holiday season even more crucial for small shops.
"To really continue to support them year-round… it's very detrimental to these businesses staying open," Skerratt said.
This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.
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