By Jonathan Baker On the Saturday after Thanksgiving, savvy shoppers will stay local. And this savviness is not based on making the most of great sales. Shoppers “in the know” realize the importance of how Small Business Saturday® contributes to the communities where they reside—and beyond. For those who are not aware of this shopping day’s impact, read on. Quid Pro Quo Thanksgiving—the last Thursday in November—is the holiday to give thanks. Consumers should extend this sense of thankfulness to Saturday by visiting and purchasing from one or more close-to-home establishments. Owners and staff members of these local establishments will in turn offer their neighbors a memorable shopping experience. This quid pro quo benefits everyone—shopper and merchant—who participates. And the ripple effect of these benefits continues to spread everywhere. Thank American Express® Fifteen years ago, American Express® (AmEx) launched Small Business Saturday to help local establishments stay afloat during the Great Recession. Since then, the mission of this special day that acknowledges neighborhood businesses—from local shops to restaurants, among others—has grown in prestige and practice. Statistics from AmEx conclude that since the inception of Small Business Saturday, over $200 billion have been generated in sales. (For a more immediate perspective, shoppers spent approximately $17 billion on Small Business Saturday-related purchases last year.) This is indeed a day for local enterprises to celebrate. If you own a small business and plan on participating in Small Business Saturday, are you ready? Check out… Marketing Materials and Tips The Hassle-Free Marketing Materials page on the American Express website offers a variety of assets—free of charge—that may be downloaded to promote your place of business on November 30th. These assets include: Social media template posts sized to 1,080 pixels x 1,080 pixels, as well as 1,080 pixels x 1,920 pixels (for Stories).Tip: Beginning Tuesday, November 26, start posting to social media. These posts can range from community check-ins to highlighting unique products that you’ll sell. Printable posters sized to 8.5″ x 11″. Tip: Place these printable posters in high-traffic areas to let passerby know that Small Business Saturday is being celebrated in your store or shop. Additionally, you can make your business’ presence known by adding or updating any relevant information to its listing, such as merchant ID or access code. Oh, and for anyone planning to purchase on November 30th… Info for shoppers Anyone who will proactively seek a small business in his or her neighborhood to shop from can find places—by name and/or location—on this map. (Oh, and it should be noted that Small Business Saturday is celebrated globally—not just in the United States. Anyone who is overseas can therefore join.) A Special Point About Small Business Saturday 2024 This year, American Express will donate $1 for all purchases made using an eligible American Express® Card at qualifying small business in the U.S. on Small Business Saturday to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation. These donations are to support recovery efforts for independent businesses that impacted by Hurricanes Helene and Milton. Indeed, the efforts by AmEx indeed go above and beyond. Shop Small to Bring Lasting Results The official logo for Small Business Saturday is “Shop Small®.” The impact, however, gets bigger each year. Business owners and customers alike, The EGC Group wishes you a Happy Small Business Saturday. May the ripple effect of benefits mentioned above on this unique shopping day continue.
