VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – Locally-owned retail stores and restaurants were offering discounts on Saturday.

It was all a part of the Small Business Saturday campaign to get you to support shops in your community.

Grace Chumfong who owns the Anti-Hero 13 clothing boutique in Gastown says it’s tough to compete with bigger businesses.

“There is no real support from the government. Licences are a nightmare. Taxes are a nightmare. It’s so much harder for us,” she explains.

“We are trying to make a living, and we are trying to offer amazing quality to customers. For bigger businesses, I don’t think there is as much blood and sweat put into it.”
    
The Canadian Federation of Independent Business says a third of BC jobs stem from local small businesses.