There are reports out that seem to indicate everything department stores did to entice shoppers to spend Black Friday in their stores worked.

It appears shoppers also took advantage of something called Small Business Saturday, a nationwide campaign in its second year.

The goal is to encourage people to shop local in their downtown.

In Stroudsburg, business owners said it worked as sales figures are up compared to this time last year.

An American Express commercial found on the company's website started the "shop local Saturday" movement on the day after Black Friday. It's a concept that that shop owners in downtown Stroudsburg have embraced.

"I think it really raised the consciousness of shoppers to shop local," said Martha Loomis, the co-owner Josephine's Fleur-de-lis. She added this year many more people shopped local on Saturday at her store than they did last year. "It was non-stop the entire day. We had full staff. We didn't have time for lunch until 6 p.m.  It was absolutely amazing." 

It was the same story next door at Dunkleberger's, which sells sporting goods equipment and clothing items.

"I think people are ready to get out and their ready to spend. They just need to have that feeling and shopping is one way of doing that," said Tricia Dunkelberger Fritz of Dunkelberger's.

At Dawn of New York, a clothing store across the street, sales there were also up compared to last year.

"Small Business Saturday this year showed a great improvement over last year. Many more people came out this year.  I think it's a testament to how people are settling less and less for the commercial industry," said Carli Timpson of Dawn of New York.

Customers believe shopping local is the best deal.

"I think it's important, you get the personal touch and this is a beautiful store. I wasn't here on Saturday, but I always shop local. It's important to keep the small businesses going," said Susan Macovsky of East Stroudsburg.

"Sometimes with the smaller stores, you can get deals.  They're closer, you know the people here and it's a lot nicer.  You get better help at the smaller stores than the larger ones," said Edward Cooney of New Jersey.