We tend to think of Small Business Saturday® as a day that exclusively benefits local stores, shops, restaurants, and any type of independent merchant. Yes, benefits abound on this day – and not only for small businesses, but for consumers as well. If you own a local business, keep in mind that Small Business Saturday is the date to shine. This is especially true if consumers take as much a shine to your store as what is sold. Let’s explain…
It is as much about great experiences as great deals.
So, what do consumers get out of Small Business Saturday? Most bargains are snapped up the day before on Black Friday, with Cyber Monday two days away where equally hot deals await. What can Small Business Saturday offer that shoppers can’t get on either Black Friday or Cyber Monday? Very simply: A memorable, personal and overall pleasant shopping experience they won’t have on the previous Friday or following Monday.
Small Business Saturday – the anti-rush day for shopping.
That’s right. Those two mega-shopping days have a lot to do with the appeal and growing popularity of Small Business Saturday. Black Friday and Cyber Monday are high energy (not to mention high maintenance) and this single Saturday that’s between them gives consumers a leisurely break from breakneck holiday shopping. Whether visiting local retail stores or dining at neighborhood restaurants, shoppers do not need to travel far, nor must they feel rushed. And all thanks to American Express®.
Small Business Saturday and American Express®.
Small Business Saturday was the creation of American Express®. Yes, in 2010, the well-known multinational financial services corporation partnered with the National Trust for Historic Preservation to help small, local, and independent businesses earn better profits in the holiday shopping season. (It is therefore no coincidence that this day falls between Black Friday and Cyber Monday.) And American Express® continues to help…
Setting up.
Local businesses can access American Express®-sponsored resources – among other promotional materials. Additionally, shoppers who want to actively support their communities can visit this “Shop Small®” page for a list of where to find these local businesses that are participating.
And, independent of what American Express® offers, small businesses should utilize Google Posts (from Google My Business) to alert their neighbors of what sales and specials are going on.
The experience may be nice, but is there in fact any profit on Small Business Saturday?
Aside from a shopping experience that’s free from stress, Nicolas Straut notes in Fundera that when customers buy locally on Small Business Saturday, $68 for every $100 stays in the community – as opposed to $43 that remains when shopping non-locally. So, complementing the relaxed browsing and buying experience consumers have on this particular day is the knowledge they are helping support their local economy.
Strong statistics on the success of Small Business Saturday…
Ever since it began, popularity of Small Business Saturday has grown – perhaps slowly but steadily. Here are two recent and impressive statistics:
- It was reported in 2017 that 43 percent of adults shopped or dined locally.
- Small Business Trends reported that in 2018, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) estimated that 108 million people made purchases from local businesses.
So, the awareness, reach, and impact of Small Business Saturday continues to gain momentum and proves to be a shopping day for that is profitable and memorable for merchants and consumers alike.
EGC Group has helped small and independently-owned businesses get noticed, whether during the holiday season, or at any time of the year. Want to know more? Contact us. We can help your small business make a big impact.
