Small Business Saturday

Small Business Saturday is an annual shopping event held the Saturday after Thanksgiving in the United States. It aims to drive customers and holiday sales to small businesses and local brick-and-mortar retailers.

Small Business Saturday was created in 2010 by American Express to help support small businesses and communities during the busy holiday season. It has since grown significantly with participation from local governments, chambers of commerce, and other organizations.

Small Business Saturday is celebrated across the United States, and its popularity has grown significantly. It serves as a reminder for consumers to consider the small businesses in their communities and support them through holiday shopping.

The event typically involves a range of promotional activities and initiatives, including:

• Small businesses offer special deals, promotions, and discounts to attract customers. This includes steep holiday sales.
• Marketing campaigns by groups like chambers of commerce and shopping districts raise awareness and encourage residents to shop locally.
• Events held by small businesses like pop-up shops, gatherings, and parties to engage with customers.
• Bonus incentives for using specific payment methods, especially American Express, which started the initiative.
• Online shopping portals are featuring products from local and small businesses to reach customers beyond physical stores.
• Activation from state and local governments providing grants, programs, and other support for participating businesses.

Small Business Saturday offers e-commerce stores opportunities for growth. With planning and creative promotions, e-commerce businesses can benefit from the event. Here are some detailed reasons why Small Business Saturday is important for e-commerce businesses:

• Revenue boost

The holiday season is a critical time for revenue and sales, and Small Business Saturday allows e-commerce stores to offer promotions, deals, and discounts to drive more customers and transactions.

• New customers

The marketing and publicity around Small Business Saturday can help e-commerce businesses reach new potential customers looking to support small businesses during the holiday season.

• Brand exposure

Participating in Small Business Saturday gives e-commerce businesses exposure to the many marketing campaigns, events, and initiatives run by organizations, partners, and government agencies to promote the day.

• Community impact

Small Business Saturday helps e-commerce businesses contribute to the health of their local economy and community by capturing some local holiday spending that otherwise may have gone to large corporations.

• Grants and support

Some government programs and business groups offer grants, marketing funds, or other resources for businesses participating in Small Business Saturday.

• Customer relationships

Holding promotions and events on Small Business Saturday can help e-commerce businesses strengthen relationships with existing customers who want to support local companies during the holidays.

• Competitive advantage

While larger retailers dominate Black Friday, Small Business Saturday provides e-commerce stores with a competitive advantage by capitalizing on customers' desires to support small and local businesses.

• Data and insights

Participating in Small Business Saturday can provide e-commerce businesses with valuable data and insights into customer behavior, preferences, and responsiveness during the lucrative holiday season.