ARROYO GRANDE - Many people on the Central Coast are doing their last-minute Christmas shopping this weekend and small businesses are seeing a boost in sales.
Shoppers said they're out helping the local shops this Christmas.
Four stores in the Arroyo Grande Village recently came together under one roof to help each other out financially and now owners sad business is going well this holiday season.
"As the expenses got higher and sales were going down, it was just a little more of a struggle," said Tami Miller, owner of Affairs of the Heart.
It's a move made two months ago that owners said has saved their businesses from going down.
They're still separate shops, but they get to help each other out financially.
"Now with all four of us here the rent is not that hard on us," said Ruth Travis, owner of Posies.
They said business has sure picked up, especially this holiday season.
"I don't know if it's just the economy getting better or if people come and there's just such a wide variety of items that they're able to find what they want," Miller said.
That variety includes home decor, jewelry, clothes, vintage products and home-made items.
"Beautiful, home-made, just that homey feeling. You're not going to a big box store. It's just different," said shopper Shana Malynn of Santa Maria.
Business owners said they hope shoppers won't forget about them during the off seasons.
"Hopefully it'll be like that all next year. That's our hope," Travis said.
The small businesses share a 6,000 square foot space in the Arroyo Grande Village.
