Black Friday and Cyber Monday may have left shoppers fatigued, but local stores are asking consumers to hop on over to their seasonal sales today.
The Perkins Historic Merchants District Association is holding its second annual “Shop Hop at the Overpass” to start holiday shopping in the small-business neighborhood of Baton Rouge. It will take place today from 5 to 9 p.m.
“It’s a way for local residents to start their holiday shopping by visiting local shops,” said Christine Caluag, president and chairperson of the Perkins Historic Merchants District Association.
Caluag said the event will be modeled like an open house for the 25 local businesses participating, which are offering a variety of specials.
“Everything in our store will be 10 percent off for the event tomorrow, and we will have food and refreshments for shoppers,” said Pam Lawson, an employee at The Royal Standard, an interior furnishings store.
Caluag said there will be strolling carolers and street artists as well as a food truck roundup to provide consumers with a festive environment for holiday shopping.
According to Caluag, the hop will be an opportunity for shoppers to experience “fun holiday spirit and purchase unique Louisiana Stars.” She said Shop Hop is the fourth event the neighborhood association has put on this year.
The event’s focus on small businesses echoes the sentiments of a newly fashioned national shopping holiday, Small Business Saturday. The event was held for the second time on Saturday, Nov. 26, to give small businesses’ sales a boost.
“It’s incredibly important to support the event because the people who run these shops are our neighbors,” Caluag said.
“It’s a way of directly impacting the economy you live