Get ready, because the 12th annual Small Business Saturday is just around the corner, happening on November 27, 2021. This special day is all about celebrating and supporting small businesses across the U.S., recognizing their vital role in local economies and job creation. It’s nestled right between Black Friday and Cyber Monday, encouraging folks to ‘Shop Small’ and support local businesses instead of big box stores and online giants.
If you’re a small business owner or supporter, you might be wondering how to make the most of Small Business Saturday 2021. Well, here’s the scoop. Small Business Saturday is all about promoting local, independent retailers, restaurants, and other businesses. It was first launched by American Express in 2010 to help small businesses during the recession, and it’s now an annual event co-sponsored by the Small Business Administration (SBA) and the Small Business Coalition.
If you’re a small business owner, you don’t need to sign up with any organization to participate. It’s as easy as pie. Just register on American Express’ merchant profile, submit your business’s Employer Identification Number (EIN), and join the Shop Small campaign. This will give you access to some fantastic resources to make the most of the shopping holiday. Then, add your business to the AmericanExpress Shop Small Map, and you’re good to go. If you’re eligible for American Express services, you’ll be included in the online map and the small business online directory for free.
There’s also an option for non-retailers to get involved as Neighborhood Champions. These folks organize local events or promotions to spread the word about Small Business Saturday in their community.
So, how can you prepare for and make the most of Small Business Saturday 2021? Here are ten tips:
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Extend Your Opening Hours: With Small Business Saturday smack in the middle of the holiday shopping season, consider extending your opening and closing hours to draw in more customers.
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Create a Tempting Offer or Discount: Engage customers with exclusive offers, discounts, in-store events, and promotions.
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Host an Event and Collaborate with Other Small Businesses: Use the shopping holiday to host an event in your store or collaborate with other small businesses.
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Prepare Your Website for Increased Traffic: Make sure your landing page is updated with holiday-specific content and special offerings.
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Stock Up: Ensure your store is fully stocked before the holiday and have plenty of your bestsellers available.
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Support Other Small Business Owners Events: Show solidarity to local small businesses by supporting their Small Business Saturday events.
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Use Social Media to Advertise: Boost your social media marketing campaign by posting offers and promotions.
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Create Offline Local Ads: Reach out to customers through local papers ads, flyers, posters, and billboards.
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Send a Small Business Saturday Email Series: Launch an email series to reach out to clients and inform them of special offers.
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Host a Giveaway: Consider offering samples, tokens, and freebies to add to the holiday spirit.
You can also create your own Small Business Saturday marketing materials or download pre-designed Shop Small resources for free. American Express’ Shop Small Studio offers additional downloadable posters, social media posts, and other resources to promote your business and the holiday shopping event. Just remember to follow AMEX’s guidelines on how to use the Small Business Saturday logo.
