SMALL BUSINESSES

when it comes to lower prices -- they just don’t have the purchasing power that big businesses have,” Sanders said in an email. “But our small businesses can offer something that these bigger businesses can’t. Many of our smaller retailers have items that you can’t find other places.”

Sanders said she’s spoken to several business owners who don’t see online and big box businesses as competition because what the local businesses offer is unique. Earlier in the pandemic, customers of Stephens Farmhouse in Yuba

City were coming to the store to buy what they could before the store had to close to help keep the business going, according to Sanders.

“The community rallied to support business,” Sanders said. “The community remembered that these small businesses were the ones to donate to their local events and support the critical needs of the people who live here. The tides in an instant had turned and now it became our small businesses that needed help and the community came to the rescue.”

Small businesses are hoping that continues this weekend on Small Business Saturday.

“I believe that people will still race to the big box stores for the deals and will take advantage of the convenience of shopping online but I also believe they will think more locally this year,” Sanders said. “When they are going down their gifts list, maybe they will decide to buy a few more items locally than they did the year before.”

Toys

Munavar Shohliay has been working at Target in Yuba City for a month but has already seen some trends in what shoppers are looking for this year. On Monday, a customer who was shopping for a foster child came up to Shohliay. The person was looking for Pokemon cards and action figures.

In addition, Legos and remotecontrol cars are popular items in the toys department.

“That’s like what more people are looking for,” Shohliay said.

Law enforcement

None of the four law enforcement agencies in Yuba-sutter said they will be having additional personnel on duty for Black Friday.

Marysville Police Department Lt. Adam Barber said MPD will not have more officers on duty because in years past there has not been a need for it.

“Our city doesn’t have the really large retail chains which bring in mass amounts of customers at one time,” Barber said in an email. “The large crowds are what typically creates a more chaotic Black Friday shopping experience.”

Yuba County Sheriff ’s Department public information officer Leslie Carbah said instead of more deputies working, the department will increase the frequency of patrols of retail areas.

“We don’t typically have any issues,” Carbah said in an email.

“For a safe shopping experience, we suggest parking in well-lit areas and do not leave valuables in your car; and be aware of your surroundings walking to/from stores.”

Yuba City Police Department

Lt. Jim Runyen said officers will be patrolling business areas and responding to calls for service as needed.

“Typically, we have not seen any issues related to Black Friday,” Runyen said in an email.

Sutter County Undersheriff Scott Smallwood said because the SCSO’S jurisdiction does not have a lot of retail businesses the day does not affect the department.

“We cover them as needed, but we don’t directly see issues,” Smallwood said in an email about supporting YCPD.