BANGOR, Maine — Black Friday is back, meaning long lines and some great deals when shopping for the perfect gift for the holidays.
To encourage Mainers to shop small this time around, businesses in downtown Bangor are showing off their plaid for "Plaid Friday."
"Plaid is colorful, it's quirky, it's very Maine," Downtown Bangor Executive Director Betsy Lundy said. "Paul Bunyan is always wearing plaid and Bangor is the home of Paul Bunyan so it just makes a whole lot of sense."
Customers are encouraged to show off their plaid for some discounts at select stores. The idea of the event is to celebrate the diversity and creativity of local stores and what they’ve got in stock; a little bit of something for everyone.
The Rock and Art Shop co-owner Annette Dodd said she's been kept busy with today's traffic and is excited to help customers looking for a new kind of shopping experience.
"We really try to create a shopping experience where you come in, you're listening to good music, we'll smile and greet you at the door," Dodd said.
Part of that positive experience, according to Maine Center For Economic Policy, is that the money you spend shopping local will stay local.
Across the street at The Briar Patch bookstore, owner Gibran Graham said that difference can mean a lot.
"When you shop locally, you have four times as much local economic impact as when you shop with a big retailer in the sky," Graham said.