Small Business Saturday – Get Your Shop On

Wow! Christmas shopping just keeps starting earlier and earlier. Black Friday used to be the big shopping day but now shopping is creeping more and more into Thanksgiving Day itself. As I type this I am sitting here waiting for a couple of my relatives to pick me up and and wisk me away to a big box store for Black Friday shopping. I know it will be crowded but I like a good deal. It is easy to start to feel like cattle when you get so many people crammed into the aisles. I look forward to Black Friday every year but it is so draining and I usually need a little rest and relaxation afterwards. I am really looking forward to Small Business Saturday this year because I know that after Black Friday I will be in dire need of unique merchandise and personalized customer service. Remember all those benefits of shopping at small businesses that I told you about? I hope they encouraged you to go out and shop your local small businesses this Saturday, too. I am sweeping up my hubby and the family and we are going on a shopping excursion at several small businesses. I have even scoped out a few places I have never been.

Here are some things I am looking forward to:

• No long lines and barricades
• Spending some fun time with the family
• Eating a tasty lunch at Barro’s Pizza or Matta’s Mexican Food
• Possibly getting my hair done at Karrma Salon
• Finding new local shops
• Helping small businesses by shopping local

I hope you plan to visit at least one small business this Saturday.  I reissue my challenge to you: pick at least one small business near you and shop there on Small Business Saturday. Afterwards, why not swing by a local independent restaurant or coffee shop.  You might even considering tweeting about your Small Business Saturday experiences or sharing photos via your favorite social media channels. There is even a hashtag for this event (#SmallBizSat).  Have fun with this and give your local small business owner a boost! This would be so much more fun with a friend or two so be sure to make it a group effort.

So what do you say?  Are you up for the challenge? Are there any local small businesses you have been wanting to check out?  Feel free to leave a comment. Share and let’s talk about it.

For more information on Small Business Saturday visit http://www.shopsmall.com/

I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for American Express. I received a promotional item as a thank-you for participating.