LaGRANGE – Today is Small Business Saturday, and stores all over town are ready with deals and specials for shoppers who want to finish up their Christmas shopping and support the local economy at the same time.

Small Business Saturday is an event that is sponsored by American Express that aims to encourage people to shop at locally owned and run businesses.  Stores in downtown LaGrange have banners outside to mark their participation, but larger locally owned businesses – like Sock Shop – plan to participate in the event as well.

“We think customer service is job one, and we think we provide that in a small store,” said Peggie Scott of Plum Southern. “We know probably 90 percent of our customers, and that is what makes them repeat customers. I think it’s customer service.”

Stores hope to offer shoppers discounts on a wide variety of merchandise to please everyone on your shopping list.

“Our store is packed full, and we have sales throughout the whole store,” said Al Brannon, the owner of Welcome Marketplace at LaFayette Square. “We are full of Christmas, and full of regular merchandise. We are the fullest we’ve ever been. … They come in and shop, and we’ll give them a deal.”

Many stores plan to serve coffee and snacks to morning deal hunters in addition to their low prices.

“We are having a good sale, (and) we are going to have some snack food out tomorrow morning,” said Jeff Wright, the manager at Tournesol. “… Just what everybody else is doing.”

Stores downtown begin opening up as early as 9 a.m., though some will not open until later in the morning.

Reach Alicia B. Hill at alicia.hill@lagrangenews.com or at 706-884-7311, Ext. 2154.