It’s one of our favorite days of the year!
Forget Black Friday and Cyber Monday (okay, don’t forget them…) – Small Business Saturday is one of the noblest concepts in retail. Sponsored by American Express, SBS began in 2010 with the simple mission of getting more people to shop locally over Thanksgiving weekend. And it worked! By 2012 over $5,500,000,000 was made by small businesses around the country on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. This year’s Small Business Saturday will take place on November 29th. Are you ready?
If you’re a shopper:
Start by mapping out your day. You probably already know which Black Friday deals you’re going to scope out, but maybe you can also plan to buy some holiday gifts at one of your neighborhood stores as well. Consider making dinner from food you bought from a local grocer or stocking up on wrapping supplies and cards in your community. Have a plan! The Small Business Saturday website has some great resources for shoppers. Search for stores with the seal in your community and make a pledge to #ShopSmall on social media, too. Tell your friends about the mission and encourage others to shop small, too as a neighborhood ambassador!
If you’re a small business:
It’s not too late to get ready! First and foremost, sign up for the free marketing materials on the Shop Small website which include printable signs, digital ads, and a spot on the Shop Small map. It’s also a good idea to start thinking about getting people in the door. Coupons? Facebook offers? Maybe a parking lot festival of some kind? 
The Shop Small logo is a great tool for your marketing materials and you may still have time to print out giveaways like pens, magnets, and even promotional bags. At the very least, talk to a local printer about a banner for your store that you can use to bring in street traffic the day of. Lastly, make sure your store looks its absolute best and that your employees are top-notch on November 29th! The few days before are likely going to wreak havoc on your stock and merchandising so plan extra cleanup time on Friday to prepare. The Bag Ladies truly believes that small and medium-sized businesses are the heart of our economy. There’s something to be said for the personalized attention and the unrelenting passion found in some of the nation’s tiniest, quirkiest, least-monetarily successful stores! Always been curious about that vintage store on the corner or that eclectic stationery shop downtown? Why not use November 29th as the perfect excuse to find out what you’ve been missing.
