For many, Saturday was a day to shop in downtowns or in other, local venues. The day after Black Friday was Small Business Saturday, when folks are encouraged to invest their dollars in buying goods offered by local merchants.

While there have undoubtedly always been shoppers who have made a conscious decision to support smaller, local businesses, the movement gained popularity in 2010, when American Express started promoting Small Business Saturday on the day after Black Friday. According to the Virginia-based Retail Merchants Association, of every $1 spent at local businesses, 45 cents is reinvested locally.

Downtown shops in York County were seeing success: A shop full of folks were looking for shoes, boots and slippers at Bergeron Shoe in Sanford Saturday, while others were looking at gifts ranging from scarves and mittens to jewelry and pottery at Stone Soup in Saco.

Business was brisk at Bergeron Shoe ”“ all the store personnel were busy with customers, and there were a few folks waiting.

“I’ve seen some sneakers and boots I like here,” said one shopper, who said she’d tried the big box stores with no luck.

At Stone Soup artisan shop on Main Street in Saco, Deb Georgitis and Cheryl Dunham were waiting on customers.

“We’ve had a lot of people ”“ they’re thankful they’re not at the mall,” said Georgitis. The “buy local” movement has been good for the shop, she said. All of the items sold at Stone Soup are made by Maine artisans.

In Sanford, a pop-up shop on Main Street, sponsored by Sanford Downtown Legacy, is open for the season, featuring wares by small merchants and artisans ”“ jewelry makers, those who concoct lotions and scents and salves, mitten makers, jam makers and more. It is staffed by volunteers. A staffer on Saturday said business was picking up, and while there was a bit of a lull that morning, he said there had already been several sales.

Shops elsewhere were also reminding folks that it was Small Business Saturday. Out on Route 5 ”“ County Road ”“ which runs from Saco to Lyman and Waterboro, a local restaurant called Flippin’ Good was offering a Small Business Saturday pizza deal. And in Waterboro, J.D.’s Redemption and Package store was boasting a sign encouraging folks to think locally when purchasing gifts for their friends and family.

— Senior Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 324-4444 (local call in Sanford) or 282-1535, ext. 327 or twells@journaltribune.com.