Monday, September 10, 2018

Two Words That Changed Holiday Spending: "Shop Small"

One of the most popular hashtags in the retail world takes it's turn in the spotlight just two days after Americans sit down to eat turkey. November 24th, 2018 is the 9th annual celebration of Small Business Saturday and the event which sparked the #shopsmall tag when launched back in 2010. Created by American Express as a movement towards getting people to spend not just locally, but at the thousands of unique, mom and pop establishments across the country has turned into an annual celebration of small business of enormous proportions.


The first SBS took place on November 27th, 2010. A resolution of support for the day was unanimously passed by the United States Senate and government officials, town and city leaders from all states in the US championed the effort."Small Business Saturday 2010 was a big success generating more than 1 million Facebook 'Likes' and nearly 30,000 Tweets"declared an advertising agency in it's case study.

Since 2010, each year has marked a substantial increase in economic impact as well as consumer participation, which has skyrocketed. On the seventh year in 2016, an estimated 112 MILLION shoppers took part in holiday spending at area retailers. "112 Million Consumers Shop and Dine Small on Small Business Saturday - More Than Ever Before".


New York, November 28th, 2016: "As Small Business Saturday wrapped up its seventh year on Saturday, November 26th, the outpouring of support for local businesses across the country hit record highs with 72% of U.S. consumers aware of the day. More shoppers reported visiting local independent businesses on Small Business Saturday this year than ever before, according to results from the Small Business Saturday Consumer Insights Survey, released today by the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) and American Express. This year, an estimated 112 million consumers reported shopping at small businesses on Small Business Saturday, marking a 13 percent increase from 2015". Source:

Check out the many promotional and advertising materials available on the American Express website. Take advantage of this spending holiday to promote your small business to your customers well in advance! Create an event on social channels, distribute printed materials to each shopper beginning in October, post flyers and banners throughout your shop and in store windows showing your participation in the big day. Don't forget to utilize the the hashtags promoting November 24th, which include #SBS, #smallbizsat and #shoplocal.




Retailers can learn more by visiting the website and Facebook page for #SmallBusinessSaturday, ordering signage and promotional materials and advertising their local shops. Towns, cities and Main Street neighborhoods across the country have embraced this date by creating activities, contests, celebrations and marketing it as a community-wide event. Don't miss out!












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