'Plaid Friday' is the new black for shoppers in northeast Minneapolis

Shoppers have seen big changes to Black Friday in recent years, as more people shop online and some big box stores open even earlier. 

However, the push to shop local is still going strong. The Saturday after Thanksgiving is known as "Small Business Saturday" and some Minnesota makers decided to start a day early with what they call “Plaid Friday.”

In northeast Minneapolis, “plaid is the new black.” A group of small business owners celebrated “Plaid Friday” with the Minneapolis Craft Market at Sociable Cider Werks. This is the third year for the event. 

“I have to tell you, it is so much fun,” said Shawn Martin with Zarooka Candle Co. based in Austin, Minnesota.  

“The nice thing is that people have been to other places, and they haven't found what they're looking for because it's just not quite right for that someone, who is really hard to shop for, and they come here and they can find a whole bunch of things that you can't find anywhere else,” Martin said.  

Jessica Reno's woodcrafts fill her table with jewelry, trays and small homemade gifts. She runs Felled Woodcrafts out of a community studio and her one-bedroom apartment. 

“It’s a labor of love,” Reno said. 

Like many artists at the event, Reno has special "Plaid Friday" deals.

“We're really trying to give support to local artists instead of more of the corporate Black Friday events,” Reno said. “Thankfully, Minneapolis is a wonderful place to be an artist, and to be a maker, because you have so much support and so much love and so I appreciate it.”  

“Being makers, it is really important to be a part of events like this,” Martin said. “Yes, you can save money with the big box stores. Yes, you can save time by shopping online, but to be able to get out and meet the people who are actually making the product that you are getting for someone, it's a special experience.”

“Plaid Friday” transitions to “Small Business Saturday” from noon to 5 p.m. on Saturday, at Sociable Cider Werks.