After the big Black Friday sales, check out the small, local, and independent businesses participating in Small Business Saturday (SBS). It is a day to celebrate small businesses and all they do for their communities.
Created in 2010 by American Express, Small Business Saturday – the day after Black Friday – is a perfect time to stop in and support your local independent business retailers. The Better Business Bureau is pleased to support Small Business Saturday and urges people to support small businesses in their communities.
Shopping locally, whether in person or online, benefits your local economy and has a positive impact on your community at large. You can often find unique and personalized gifts that have the personal touch of a local business.
BBB offers the following tips to “Shop Small” on Small Business Saturday:
• Get involved. Many communities host special events to celebrate and support the businesses that make your hometown unique. Find out what local events are happening in your area on the Small Business Saturday website or visit your local chamber of commerce or merchants’ association.
• Sign up for email alerts. Save a few dollars on your holiday budget by signing up for Small Business Saturday email specials offered by the merchants in your area. Remember, you’ll probably get additional deals throughout the year, not just during the holidays.
• Research the shops nearest to you. Find out what past customers say by reading reviews online, such as those on BBB.org, and learn what shops participate by going to ShopSmall.org.
• Connect with businesses on social media. Many small businesses will advertise their sales via social media. Use #ShopSmall to search for information and share activities.
• Invite your friends and family. Turn this shopping event into a “friends and family” extravaganza! Visit your favorite local stores or explore a new one. Take time to get to know the business owners and local community officials, and get a head start on the holidays while enjoying time with loved ones.
• Don’t just shop small; eat small! Many people think shopping at local retail stores is the only way to participate. However, small, independently owned restaurants, bakeries, and coffee shops would love to invite new customers while they’re out and about.
• Share your experience. Take a selfie at your favorite small business. Share it on social media with the hashtags #BBB and #ShopSmall to tell the world you’re a big fan of small businesses. Leave a review on BBB.org. Remember, these shops are open all year as well!
• Look for the BBB Seal. It’s the Sign of a Better Business. Shop confidently on Small Business Saturday by choosing businesses prioritizing trust and ethics in the marketplace. Shop with confidence and peace of mind this holiday season, avoid scams, and make smart purchasing decisions.
How to find local businesses online
Many local businesses might exist only online. How do you find them?
• Use local search filters
• On BBB.org, you can search your local area by filling in the “near” box on our search form. See businesses near you.
• In search engines like Google or Bing, you can enter “[business type] near me” and get results near you.
• On apps like Facebook Marketplace and Etsy (a BBB Accredited Business), you can use a filter for results in a radius of miles of your home.
• Explore local business locations and directories
• Consider curbside pickup or delivery options to support local even when shopping online at large retail merchants, like The Home Depot (a BBB Accredited Business).
• Your chamber of commerce may have a directory of local businesses and their websites
For more information
Visit the BBB holiday HQ.
The BBB is a nonprofit, business-supported organization that sets and upholds high standards for fair and honest business behavior. Most BBB services to consumers are free of charge. BBB provides objective advice, free BBB Business Profiles on more than 5.3 million companies, 11,000 charity reviews, dispute resolution services, alerts and educational information on topics affecting marketplace trust. Visit bbb.org for more information. There are over 100 local, independent BBBs across the United States, Canada and Mexico, including BBB Serving Central East Texas, which was founded in 1985 and serves 19 counties.
