Smaller retailers mark Black Friday

The story of Black Friday isn’t only told by big-box retailers. Smaller, independent stores have a role in it as well.

Crock and Rocker is a clothing and specialty gift shop in Michigamme. The store has found a niche that keeps the till ringing. One of the co-owners says small retailers offer options for customers that big-box stores can’t or won’t.

“Get out and shop your small stores in your hometown,” co-owner Melissa Grochowski said. “We have great customer service; we do free gift wrapping. We have some awesome, unique things. We have some Black Friday specials just for our shoppers that come up for a quiet day.”

2013 has been the best sales year ever for Crock and Rocker. Melissa says traveling all over the Upper Peninsula for fashion shows has helped create that.

“We travel to Marquette, to Coco’s,” she said. “We go to White Pine. We’ve been to Calumet to the Miscowaubik Club, to Houghton, to Baraga, so we’ve kind of been all over the U.P., Iron Mountain. It’s given us some new avenues and new customers.”

Small Business Saturday is being celebrated nationwide tomorrow. Crock and Rocker has joined in with a 25% off sale on all of its American–made clothing items, as well as other special offers.