November 29th was Small Business Saturday and in downtown Grass Valley shops were busy.

Click here to listen to James Arbaugh

That’s James Arbaugh, owner of Stuki Jewelers on Mill Street. He says they have invited vendors to their store this year and people seem to like having more choices.

Click here to listen to James Arbaugh

At Good Times store which caters to younger males with clothing, accessories and skate boarding equipment, owner Gus Cornel says he has a good feeling about the upcoming season.

Click here to listen to Gus Coronel

Cornel says by focusing on the 14 to 22 age group they have a customer base with few other choices.

Click here to listen to Gus Coronel

As for consumer confidence and spending this year, Cornel says it’s looking up.

Click here to listen to Gus Coronel

And at Tess Kitchen Store, Sales Associate, Sadie Hartman says Cornish Christmas falling on Black Friday drew a lot of shoppers into the store and the pace continued through the weekend.

Click here to listen to Sadie Hartman

Hartman says they are sensing higher consumer confidence and are stocking the store’s three floors with merchandise in anticipation of brisk sales.

Click here to listen to Sadie Hartman

She says what people have been shopping for.

Click here to listen to Sadie Hartman

And finally, Gus Cornel says it’s a risk sometimes trying to know ahead of time what people are going to to buy.

Click here to listen to Gus Coronel

Many of the retailers had sales going on Black Friday and through the weekend which also seemed to increase flow into the stores.