Thanksgiving kicked off one of the largest shopping spree-filled weekends of the year.

Store sales, both large and small along with cyber sales, account for a significant piece of retail profit pie.Thursday started things off with early bird specials. Black Friday sales then took center stage before rolling into the newly dubbed "Shop Small Saturday," which aims to bring Christmas shoppers home.Shop Small Saturday is a 5-year-old initiative, sponsored by American Express to get shoppers into their neighborhood stores to help boost the local economy.According to the credit company last year's independent business sales totaled over $14 million dollars country wide.The concept has become part of the traditional spending excursion with people specifically shopping locally on Saturday."It's fantastic, it's a great way to bring more focus to small business and the communities they are a part of," Dori Micio of Orefield said.Micio spent last Shop Small Saturday in Bethlehem, but this year headed to Jim Thorpe for her gift purchases."I came here for something different," she said.Micio and her sister and mother have made Shop Small Saturday an afternoon event for four years, starting at 11:30 a.m.Greg Lamberth, with his son and wife, hit stores on Broadway and Race Street during the afternoon."We knew it was support Shop Small Saturday," he said. "We do it every year."The Carbon Chamber and Economic Development Corp. worked with the independent shops to help get the word out about the important economic opportunity."It's easy to support big business, they are well known. But the small shops really need us," Alice Wanamaker of the chamber said about the partnership.Wanamaker and CCEDC executive director Marlyn Kissner were on hand at the Old Mauch Chunk Train Station behind a table covered in "Shop Small" goodies to entice travelers and shoppers to spend their money and afternoons in the historic Carbon County district."I've met a lot of people today," Karen Blankenbiller, a Jim Thorpe shop owner, said. "People are looking for hand crafted things, unique items.""A lot of gifts you find in small businesses are unique. The gifts are more personal. It really helps the local economy," holiday shopper Amy Blasko said. "We came here specifically for Shop Small Saturday."Blasko said of her family outing with daughter Isabella and husband Stephen in tow."Nobody is pushing or shoving, everyone is friendly."