Today, on what’s marketed as ?the biggest shopping day of the year,? we check in with two small business owners facing their first Black Friday: Michael Sclafani, who operates the Park Delicatessen skateboard, flower, and dry goods store in Brooklyn, New York; and Julie Lapier, who owns a Dresscode, a consignment shop in Plattsburgh, New York.

We also chat with Spencer Ante, Businessweek writer and author of “Creative Capital,” about the the rise of entrepreneurship in a recession.