Making the Most of Small Business Saturday
Saturday, November 28th is a day for us all to remember how important independent businesses are to our communities. 2020 has been a challenging year and the best way we can help our economy recover is to buy local. By providing employment, giving to local organizations, and volunteering time and expertise to help neighbors, local businesses are the backbone of our communities.
During the year of COVID, many local businesses have found new and creative ways to stay open and continue to offer their communities the products, services, and hope that are vital to all of us. As a way of saying thank you to these business owners and their employees, below are a few thoughts on how all of us as consumers can help our neighbors by buying local, as well as how businesses can get the most out of Small Business Saturday.
Thoughts for Businesses
- Use free and brandable marketing materials from American Express, which created Small Business Saturday.
- Highlight how you can keep customers safe through curbside pick-up, online shopping and delivery, as well as in-store distancing procedures.
- Share the story of your business online and in marketing materials. Storytelling helps people make a deeper connection with your business and shows why they should want to spend money on your products and/or services.
- Collaborate with your fellow local businesses to create shared prizes, sales, and other incentives to drive business. For example, the local wine store could partner with the local hardware store to provide a discounted holiday-themed wine basket and knife sharpening kit.
Thoughts for Consumers
- Set a goal for the 2020 holiday season to make at least 50% of your gift purchases from local, independent businesses.
- Provide positive online reviews to local businesses in your community.
- Stop by your favorite local businesses to thank the owners and employees for being open and continuing to provide valuable products and/or services to your community.
- When making purchasing decisions, keep in mind that dollars spent at local businesses tend to stay in the community, whether as salary to employees, donations to local non-profit or religious organizations, or as payment to other local businesses.
While 2020 has been a challenging year for everyone, we have the opportunity on Small Business Saturday, November 28th, to thank our business owner neighbors for their valuable contributions to our communities, and to help give our communities a needed boost heading into 2021.