Suffolk shoppers gave their best evidence of support for the city’s small businesses during Small Business Saturday: They turned out and spent money.

With all the focus on Black Friday and Cyber Monday this time of year, America’s small, independent businesses struggle for the attention of the nation’s consumers. That’s why American Express came up with the idea of Small Business Saturday in the first place; the company wanted to help give its retail clients a voice amid the din of advertisers competing for shoppers’ attention.

Judging from the reactions of both shoppers and independent retailers around the city, the movement is growing, and it did so by leaps and bounds this year. Stores and restaurants were full, and there were even lines of eager shoppers waiting for some locations to open. Some retailers responded by keeping their businesses open later on Saturday.

Adding to the excitement during the day was a contest sponsored by the Suffolk News-Herald, working with the Suffolk Department of Economic Development, through which dozens of people submitted photos taken at their favorite shops and restaurants while they were out shopping. Four of those shoppers were chosen at random to receive $250 gift certificates to the businesses they promoted with their photos.

Every shopkeeper wants to see people milling about the aisles and leaving his store with arms full of bags. But in the end, the big-box retailers will never notice whether individual shoppers choose to visit. On the other hand, individual customers are vitally important to small, independent businesses.

For those customers who chose to support independent businesses on Small Business Saturday, it’s likely that each one came away with a new understanding of how much their business is appreciated.