Small Business Saturday: Small Retailers Fight Back With Deals After Black Friday

Big retailers like Walmart, Best Buy and Target may command the headlines on Black Friday, with their $300 laptops and $200 flatscreen TVs and crowds camping out overnight for the best deals. But don't count out the mom-and-pops, who are fighting back with deals of their own on the second-annual Small Business Saturday.

Across the nation, small retailers are armed and ready for what they hope will be their biggest shopping day of the year: Small Business Saturday. Sandwiched between the powerhouse Black Friday and Cyber Monday, Small Business Saturday was created by American Express, which offers registered customers a $25 credit if they spend $25 or more on their American Express card at a participating small business on that day. This year, President Obama endorsed Small Business Saturday describing it as a way to "keep our local economies strong and help maintain an American economy that can compete and win in the 21st century."

"Research shows that the holiday season makes up for the bulk of small businesses' yearly sales," says Patricia Norins, an independent consultant and Small Business Saturday shopping expert for American Express. "Right now, retailers are looking for as many ways as possible to drive traffic to their stores." With projections that 90 million consumers will be out shopping this Small Business Saturday, Norins calls this "a huge opportunity."

Norins has talked to small-business owners who are planning everything from balloons and banners to Santas and tree lightings. Many are joining forces to produce shopping maps of participating local businesses or offering cross promotions such as handing out different free cookies at neighboring stores. Norins believes this type of momentum can translate beyond the day to connect customers with local businesses year-round. "Consumers have a huge opportunity to find unique products and personalized customer service," she says. "It instills a sense of community, which is important on a local and national level -- more money stays in the community and more jobs are created."

We talked to eight small retailers nationwide to find out how and why they're going above and beyond to attract shoppers this Small Business Saturday.

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Comments

[Genius Kevin]

03:47 PM on 11/27/2011

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[Grouchland]

09:48 AM on 11/27/2011

I tried I really did... for some reason this really cool t-shirt shop with great T's crashed!

[Najah Roper]

08:40 PM on 11/26/2011

Check out my website at www.bdazzled.webs.com ! Some earrings are 20% off! Also get free stuff from nomorerack with this link http://www.nomorerack.com/?cr=1252682 Happy shopping!

[NoWayMan]

04:52 PM on 11/26/2011

if you have to shop (and it seems we must since we act like a bunch of drug addicts when those doors open for a sale) then why not spend it locally and keep the money local?

black friday has ben around for awhile, but what it has (d)evolved into is one of the ugliest things I've ever seen. its amazing how people are willing to trample over each other for a toy. and its killing thanksgiving, the only national holiday we have where we are supposed to gather with family and reflect on our lives and be appreciative of what we have beyond our material possessions.

america has bought into the idea that consumption equals wealth and happiness.
in fact, we are all in and ready to double down on the idea.
and its sad.

[PTAOfficerforObama]

04:33 PM on 11/26/2011

Sadly two of the small stores I went to today had signs on the doors thanking their patrons for their business, but they were now closed. :-(

[FireThemAll2012]

04:28 PM on 11/26/2011

Wanna do your part to help the middle class? Then stop shopping at big box retailers not just Saturday, but everyday. Shop small, locally owner hardware stores, gun stores, sporting good stores, etc. Look at labels or ask was this made in the USA? Theres a story floating around about a contractor that built a house with every single item used was made in the USA. He figured that the cost was just about 3% more than average and it told him some time to find a few items. It can be done and the American consumer is our best chance of fixing the American middle class.

[NJBill]

08:16 AM on 11/27/2011

The problem with that is not that you are wrong, you are right, if a HUGE majority of people started doing this is would bring down prices at the small stores, it will force larger ones to carry made in America products, etc... however... people are NOT going to do that, a few might, a few die hards very committed, but the majority of people won't. It's human nature to take the "easy way out" - and some people just can't afford to PAY the higher prices. So though I agree with what you said, it will never happen.

[SmartladyDem]

03:48 PM on 11/26/2011

I heard last night that this effort was started by American Express-but,I do endorse the idea of shopping at your favorite small business. Sad to see so many closing in recent years.

[cccoyote]

04:51 PM on 11/26/2011

The irony is AmEx charges small business exorbitant fees over other providers.
Their involvement in this would merely be self-promotion.

[SmartladyDem]

08:05 PM on 11/26/2011

Oh-Totally!

[susanbsbi]

03:44 PM on 11/26/2011

I did my share of Shopping at the small stores on the island her. Also, got great deals on top of it.

[Recalled]

03:35 PM on 11/26/2011

When you go to let's say... China- Hong Kong. Yes you see skyscrapers affiliated with big business but there also exists as many small and family run businesses on the street level. You don't see any Office Max's, Best Buys, or the like anywhere. Both exist with out one entrenching on the other. This is a USA phenomenon.

[Recalled]

03:32 PM on 11/26/2011

Sorry you had to take a back seat to "BIG BUSINESS" Friday.

[Which]

03:30 PM on 11/26/2011

The "Old Town" sector of my small town is jammed with people and they are spending like crazy. Restaurants are busier than ever, there's no place to park, and everyone is happy happy, joy joy. We're hoping that many of these folks have never been to Old Town before and will remember it with fondness (and credit cards) the next time they want to go somewhere special to shop, eat delicious freshly made gourmet food, get their hair done, buy insurance, work out, pick up some beautiful locally-grown organic veggies and flowers, walk their dog, hang out with friends over beers , or check out an unusual museum. That's just the beginning, of course. Wal-Mart offers NONE of this, but if you would rather risk getting pepper-sprayed for a $2 waffle iron or $15 jeans made in a foreign sweatshop, knock yourself out.

[debberae]

03:17 PM on 11/26/2011

Small business owners at the farmers market and holiday craft fair today said few people are buying. I bought some summer rolls at the Thai booth and made small donations to the community's local Humane Society and the Marine Science Center. I try to shop locally whenever possible....Walmart gives me the creeps.

[Jerry Jablonski]

02:56 PM on 11/26/2011

This really hits home with me. My parents ran a small business, I've had a small business for the last 22 years and I'm helping my wife today in her Mom and Pop retail. Yeah small business.

[dpkjj]

08:06 PM on 11/26/2011

Yeah, small businesses who create over 80% of the new jobs in this country.

[beverlyamy1]

11:40 AM on 11/29/2011

good,hope you make it last theres not too many left.

[Mr MOTO]

02:52 PM on 11/26/2011

Funny that there are a lot people here critizing consumeris­m, yet I bet NOT ONE actually raises their own beef, pork and chickens. Not one cleans the carcasses and all that. Few probably have gardens. I don't see them generating their own energy to power their laptops and smart phones.

There are people out there who work every day to do the things that others won't do. Then the latter complain when they have to pay the former to do so.

[cpbsmw]

04:10 PM on 11/26/2011

F&F

[Mr MOTO]

02:51 PM on 11/26/2011

Evil, I tell 'ya, just down right evil ...