INDIANAPOLIS — The holiday shopping season has officially begun. Shoppers hit the stores Friday looking for those Black Friday deals.
With just a month to go until Christmas, there's still time left to find that perfect gift.
Local businesses are hoping shoppers find those gifts right on Main Street during Small Business Saturday.
"There's intention and energy put behind everything done by somebody in a small business," said Jennifer Hines with Nap or Nothing.
The store moved to Mass Ave. last December after a decade inside Lafayette Square Mall.
Saturday will mark the first Small Business Saturday for Nap or Nothing at its new location, but the work to get ready is already happening.
"We are gearing up. We have a lot of inventory that we're going through today, just to get ready and make sure people coming through will be well serviced," Hines explained.
While "Black Friday" is about big deals at big stores, Saturday is all about keeping the dollars local.
American Express says consumers spent nearly 18 billion dollars last year on Small Business Saturday.
"Everything in here is made by someone from a small business. It's something we really do believe in," said Hines, adding she hopes consumers believe that too because it translates into dollars staying in local communities.
"It boosts our local economy," said Hines.
"We will have a line at our door when we open at 9," added Jaennifer Lyons with Three Dog Bakery on Mass Ave.
"We'll have people on the register, we'll have lines out the door and people are hoping to be in here and supporting us. So it's super fun," Lyons said.
And while Friday is usually the calm before the storm, that didn't stop customers like Nick and Codie Morolla from wandering in on Friday looking for the perfect gift for their dogs, while supporting local.
"We normally are so quick to purchase things on Amazon or something," said customers Codie and Nick Morolla.
"It's at your fingertips and at your door in two days, so when you have time to slow down for the holidays and get out and do something different, I think it's really great to get to go support people who are fulfilling your community with a need," the Morollas added.
So could inflation woes change that support this year?
"People aren't spending as much. I feel like, but we're hoping they put some money back for the holidays," said the owner of Francis and Fern on Mass Ave, Kim Pauszek, adding her business has had a great year.
She's hoping the same for Saturday.
"We always hope it's huge. It's our best day of the year by far," Pauszek said.
And for many of these small business owners, like Pauszek, what happens Saturday is about a lot more than just dollars and cents.
"Literally, our heart and soul go into our small business. They're our babies and we appreciate the customers that get that," Pauszek said.