Small businesses across the Mahoning Valley are getting things ready for the shopping season. At the Eastwood Mall, Reyers shoe store is preparing for crowds of customers to come out on Black Friday. 

“People sit behind the computers a good part of the year and this is a good time to get out, feel things, touch things, try ‘em on and actually get back to retail the way it used to be,” John Franek, the Reyers store manager said. 

As a small business, Reyers has to compete with the big department stores like Macy’s and Boscov’s that are right next door in the mall. 

”It’s becoming more and more of a struggle unfortunately,” Franek said. “We’re fighting for every dollar, every sale, every customer we can get.”

Reyers believes that shopping in-person for shoes is crucial. Franek has been working for the store for 54 years and said since materials are made all over the world now, sizing is different and there's a lot of counterfeit brands online. He feels what sets Reyers apart from the big box stores is the customer service. 

“We’re here to help solve a problem,” Franek said. “You’re big box stores don’t know most of you. The people that work here that are waiting on you, their children, could be going to school with your children. You could be next door neighbors. We’re helping the community.”

That personal experience is also a priority at Dineen’s Jewelry & Gifts in Girard. 

“We’re happy when you come here and we work really hard to try to find you what you’re looking for,” Dineen Kempe, the Owner of Dineen’s Jewelry & Gifts said. 

Their biggest day is Small Business Saturday. Some of their customers return every holiday season since they opened nine years ago. But as a locally owned business their biggest competition is Amazon. 

”We just keep on every day doing, trying to do what we can do best … but you know we still have people that love the experience of shopping, picking things out, they want to see it, they want to feel it,” Kempe said.

Kempe said something that makes the store special is they offer free gift wrapping and can put items on a wishlist so that people can pick out gifts they want, then have friends or family come in another time without them to buy the item to ensure a surprise on the holiday.

Reyer’s will be open special hours on Black Friday from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. in the Eastwood Mall. 

Dineen’s Jewelry & Gifts is located at 822 N State Street in Girard and will be open on Black Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. then again on Small Business Saturday, Nov. 25 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Starting Saturday, Dec. 2 Dineen’s will be open 7 days a week until Christmas.