Nail salons, barber shops and other small businesses are among the hardest hit.

WEST PALM Beach, Fla. — Black Friday attracted eager shoppers and bargain-hunters as people got started with holiday shopping.

Saturday is the next day. Shopping is encouraged, but small businesses are prioritized.

Local small businesses are often owned and operated by people you see in the grocery store or park. On Small Business Saturday, you can help those mom-and-pop shops by shopping local for holiday shopping.

“I like supporting small businesses. Those are the people who live in our community. We want to support them and keep those businesses going. That is the heartbeat of the community. Julie Parsons, who is in West Palm Beach shopping for the holidays, said Julie Parsons.

A small business can be anything, from a local bar or restaurant to a local repair shop or art shop.

According to the Florida Small Business Administration, there are 2.8 Million.

Between March 2019 and 2020, an estimated 77.339 businesses closed their doors, leaving 648.283 people without a job.

Parsons stated, “Last year was difficult and many likely lost their businesses. I am now trying to restart or build from the source. So I believe it’s crucial that we support and put our money where the most valuable gifts are.”

A Federal Reserve study found that nail salons, barbershops and other personal services providers are the hardest hit.

Denise Hull, owner of businesses such as ‘D is for Dog’ and ‘D is for Design’, stated that she would not be able keep her boutiques open without the support of the community.

The boutiques can be found along Dixie HWY, just south of Evernia Street, in downton West Palm Beach.

Hull claims that she opened her dog shop in January last year, just before the pandemic.

It offered accessories and other services due to COVID-19 but she concentrated her efforts solely on food and treats.

She was able to keep her business afloat thanks to the overwhelming support of the community.

WPTV asked Hull about Small Business Saturday. Hull stated that these owners are your neighbors and put extra effort into every service they offer. They need your support to thrive and stay open.

Hull stated, “I believe it’s a collaborative effort of your neighbours that have invested their heart in to providing a nice small boutique into the downtown. I think it is important to support restaurants and all of the smaller businesses downtown.” We have everything you need here, and it’s nice that there’s a neighborhood feel. It’s similar to how many big cities have small boutique shops. We appreciate everyone’s support.

According to a Federal Reserve study , nearly 200,000 small businesses have closed their doors since the pandemic started.