Instead of shopping at the mall or online this holiday season, consider spending your money at local small businesses on Saturday, November 24. Support small business while helping the local economy by shopping or dining at your favorite small local business.
American Express founded the first Small Business Saturday in 2010. In its third year, Small Business Saturday was created to support small, local businesses in response to the recession. Its timing is opportune as it falls in between Black Friday and Cyber Monday. During this time of year, in preparation for the winter holidays, even the most frugal of us tend to spend much more money than usual.
What are the benefits of shopping at small businesses instead of the big retail chains? Small, local businesses often offer superior customer service, something that can get lost in the corporate style of large chains. While small businesses often can’t offer the same kinds of deals that the big retailers can, they can still offer great discounts on quality items.
If you own or work for a small business, get the word out through social media and word of mouth that your business is participating. Offer discounts or bargains on that day, and publicize the sale with flyers and social media announcements. Download free marketing materials from American Express and read success stories of small business owners to see how they took advantage of the day.
Small Business Saturday can be seen as a a small act of defiance against the big corporations that profit from the consumerism of Black Friday and Cyber Monday. It puts money back in our local communities, and supports small business owners.
John Bradley Jackson
Director, Center for Entrepreneurship
jjackson@fulleton.edu