INDUSTRY CITY — The Brooklyn Made Store at Industry City hosted a “Meet the Makers” event on Small Business Saturday, a day that encourages shoppers to patronize brick and mortar businesses that are small and local.  

The Brooklyn Made event was held on Saturday, Nov. 30, and encouraged customers to meet local makers and buy their products between rival marketing initiatives like Black Friday on Nov. 29 and Cyber Monday on Dec. 2. The event amped up the energy with holiday activities, including a tree lighting and Christmas caroling. 

Local makers like Bobbi Rose Jewelry, Harissa Hot Honey and Kemushi Sauces utilized the opportunity to exhibit their unique, locally made products at “Meet the Makers” and connect with their customers in-person, something that cannot be experienced with e-commerce or big box retailers.

“Small Business Saturday reminds me that I don’t just have a hobby, which it feels like sometimes, because I so love doing it,” Simone Sullivan, owner of Bobbi Rose Jewelry, a Brooklyn-based jewelry maker, said. “I have a business, and I get to impact other people with my gift. But just because it’s small doesn’t mean it isn’t as impactful as a larger operation.”