Sterling Drug Store regularly gives back to the Austin community. Over the weekend, employees at the store were happy to see the community return the favor.

“It was a good weekend for us,” said Jessica Jenkins, general manager at Sterling. “We’re happy people show patronage for local businesses.”

Small Business Saturday follows the big-box store-oriented Black Friday as a way to galvanize sales at smaller businesses. Sterling found customers observed the shopping holiday by stopping by and showing their support for the store.

“I think, in talking to customers, they were excited for Small Business Saturday,” Jenkins said. “I think people felt some loyalty.”

Customers shopped for items of all varieties, though a sale on gift-style goods made them especially popular, she said. The main sale ran Friday, with a coupon given to customers who spent more than $100 to come back the next day for $10 off.

“The store was really busy on Friday,” she said.

Sales for the weekend were similar to last year, though the store has seen a higher customer turnout around this time of year thanks to specials it has going on right now to commemorate its 60th anniversary.

Smaller businesses weren’t the only ones who met success over the weekend. One of Austin’s larger retailers, Target, saw many enthusiastic shoppers come through.

“It was excellent; we had a very large crowd,” said Ashley Ophein, executive team lead at the Austin Target.

Ophein worked up at the front of the store during the sale, and said sales figures were very good from what she’s heard. Unlike Sterling, Target found most of its customers spending for a particular type of goods.

“It was, by majority, electronics,” she said. “Anything from an iPad to TV.”

The store’s staff was well prepared for the day and pulled it off smoothly, Ophein said.

“Overall it was just a very successful Black Friday,” she said.