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Small Business Saturday: Here Are 5 Facts You May Not Have Known

Nov. 24, 2012 8:21am Becket Adams

With the conclusion of the much-anticipated annual big box brouhaha known as Black Friday, major retailers now turn their attention to Cyber Monday.

But what about America’s small businesses? Considering the important role America’s 27 million small and independent businesses play in our nation’s economy, is there a post-Thanksgiving shopping “holiday” day for them?

There sure is. It’s called Small Business Saturday and it’s going on right now:

Now, because this particular shopping “holiday” is young, it’s understandable if you’ve never heard of it. But don’t worry, that’s what we’re here for.

Here is a basic primer on Small Business Saturday (with some interesting trivia thrown in!):

American Express Started it all

Aided by a full-fledged radio, TV, and social media ad blitz, credit card giant American Express launched Small Business Saturday on November 27, 2010. The idea was simple: Encourage U.S. consumers to use the Saturday between Black Friday and Cyber Monday to shop at their local mom-and-pop businesses.

“It began in 2010 when American Express founded Small Business Saturday to help small businesses get more exposure during one of the biggest shopping weekends of the year,” the company’s website reads.

“Now, in its third year, Small Business Saturday will be even bigger,” the website promises.

Twitter Loves Small Business Saturday

Seriously, the folks at Twitter really, really want Small Business Saturday to survive.

“Twitter is offering $1 million in free ads for small businesses,” writes Dylan Tweney for Venture Beat.

“The first 10,000 eligible businesses in the U.S. will get $100 in free advertising credits each, which they can use for promoting tweets or for promoting their own Twitter accounts. Nice, huh? You don’t even have to claim the credits this weekend — Twitter will keep the offer open until December 14,” he adds.

Considering how powerful social media has become, that’s an awfully generous gesture on the part of Twitter. Indeed, the company could make a killing if it charged small businesses for that kind of promotional power.

“It’s a sweet gesture from Twitter to the vast engine of economic growth that is made up of America’s small businesses,” Tweney adds.

Few Thought Small Business Saturday Would Last Beyond its 1st Year

After the shopping “holiday” launched in 2010, Jeff Harrington of the Tampa Bay Times had little faith that the America Express-founded event would survive to see another year:

Small Business Saturday: Mom-and-pop retailers and American Express tried their darnedest to get this entered into the holiday shopping routine tucked between Black Friday and Cyber Monday. So far, it’s gained as much traction as a “free Bernie Madoff” campaign.

But it Has Gained Traction

Although its 2010 debut was relatively small, Small Business Saturday has seen an exponential increase in consumer participation.

“American Express started the Small Business Saturday ‘movement’ in 2010 and last year over 100 million people decided to Shop Small for the big day [emphasis added],” Marketing Pilgrim notes.

Not bad. Not bad at all.

“In just three years, Small Business Saturday went from an idea to help Small Business find more customers, to a permanent fixture on the holiday shopping calendar,” said Susan Sobbott, president, American Express OPEN. “According to the research, we are seeing the small business community take ownership of the day and make it their own.”

More Small Businesses Want a Piece of the Action

Almost half of small and independent businesses plan to participate in Small Business Saturday in 2012, according to the National Federation of Independent Business and American Express.

“The inaugural Small Business Saturday Insights Survey, which was released this week, found 47 percent of independent merchants will make a point of using Small Business Saturday as a way to draw customers,” Tim Gallen write for the Phoenix Business Journal.

The study also shows that at least 67 percent of small businesses intend to include Black Friday-style discounts to help drive sales.

“Research has shown that American consumers have a deep trust in, and admiration for, the small business community. Small Business Saturday gives them a chance to show their appreciation – and help America’s essential job creators in a very real way – by patronizing small shops, restaurants and service providers,” said Dan Danner, CEO of the National Federation of Independent Business.

“And anything that helps with sales is certainly appreciated by small business owners, many of whom have struggled to stay afloat in a rough and uncertain economy,” he adds

Bottom Line: True, the shopping “holiday” was founded by a credit card company, but that doesn’t mean it’s not worth looking into. Indeed, considering the crucial role small businesses play in hiring, economic growth, and charitable contributions, we’d say Small Business Saturday is certainly worth at least a small investment.

Oh, and speaking of small businesses, you can find (and support) a whole bunch of them right here at The Marketplace by TheBlaze.

Follow Becket Adams (@BecketAdams) on Twitter

All photos courtesy Getty Images.

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Comments (54)

Christy1
Posted on May 14, 2013 at 10:12am
To my opinion, small business is a backbone of the economy and it’s necessary to create decent conditions for its development. Small business owners create jobs and pay taxes, that’s why they help to make the US better. I think for every country it’s very important to create strong small business sectors and assure consumers that there’s a place for small business. The more business we have the better and it’s necessary to encourage people and provide business loans for them. The economy is tough today but entrepreneurs should understand that it’s still possible to find a good niche for making money.
Christina from http://northenloans.ca/no-credit-check-loans.html

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RushEcho2
Posted on November 26, 2012 at 9:48am
“Breath! . . . Believe! . . . Battle!” — Misty May’s coach.
Mid-elections are in 2014 . . . . . . . Let’s do all we can!

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Colin Maynerdson III
Posted on November 24, 2012 at 9:13pm
It was all started by American Express. Isn’t that really all you need to know about this silly retailing marketing gimmickry?

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- Scooby_Do
  Posted on November 25, 2012 at 6:53am
  It’s all silly, I stay out of the stores around Black Friday weekend. Read fresh political commentary at: http://smallcraftadvisorychronicles.blogspot.com/
  
  Report this comment
- G-WHIZ
  Posted on November 25, 2012 at 12:51pm
  After all these “boosted” temporarry sales, the sales will quickly drop back down to their “too-low” levels befkor e the “boost”. Happens every time after a “holliday” since the creeation of GOVERNMENT HOLLIDAYS!! Then each time…the CoimmieGovt says”Oh lookie–lookie at the grfeat sales-bboost!!!!! The “numbers are sooomuch higher now since King-O’commie is in office!!
  One day later comes the “ADJUSTMENT” WAY-LOWER THAN THE FIRST (PROGRESSIVE) POSTING!! You LEMMINGS fall for it every single time!! Don’t lookit the FACTS just beleive what
  “OUR PARTY(D) TELLS YOU!!
  
  Report this comment
AbrahamsSheepdog
Posted on November 24, 2012 at 7:08pm
Wango a.k.a pantload. Does the crime rate go down in your neighborhood while you are trolling. I bet you hang around playgrounds too. For all the wangos…watch your back. Some of the good guys ain’t sissies.

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SocialistSlayer
Posted on November 24, 2012 at 4:33pm
As a Small Business Owner I am grateful to be recognized but so far it has been one huge flop for us as our sales continue their downward spiral each year since 2008 ! Also when the financial crisis hit American Express pulled our line of Credit for no reason at all ! We immediately lost 20,000 in purchasing power. They hurt us more than anything so now Amex wants to be called the good guys?

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- grayling646
  Posted on November 24, 2012 at 5:06pm
  Just an observation. They’ve got us spending our money on Black Friday and now even on Thanksgiving day. They have us spending our money on Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday? What’s next? Maybe ‘Too Tired to Shop Tuesday’ and ‘What Else can I Blow my Money on’ Wednesday’?
  
  Customer/husband: ‘How much is this?
  Clerk: ‘$19.95
  Customer/husband: ‘Gemme three
  Wife: ‘Whatcha buying, honey?
  Customer/husband: ‘Just some frivolous products we don’t need and nobody wants but it’s Finally Broke Friday so I figured, what the hey.
  Wife: ‘Well I want one, too.
  Customer/husband: ‘Make it four…
  
  Report this comment
- grayling646
  Posted on November 24, 2012 at 5:11pm
  Sorry Slayer. Didn’t mean to post this under you.
  
  Report this comment
ohsmallbiz
Posted on November 24, 2012 at 4:29pm
I live and have a small business in a small city. Our visitors bureau, chamber of commerce, and city have for many years promoted doing business local if and when we can. It’s a win win for all. Bring business to us and in turn we pay taxes and dues to support them. I produce, wholesale and retail products that I have developed. You might find something like it, but you won’t get my particular quality and customer service that my customers come back for. I appreciate the big bucks that American Express put behind this promotion, but yes their fees are much higher. Fortunately the idea has caught on and most of my customers skip the AmEx and go with the cheaper card or cash.

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rfycom
Posted on November 24, 2012 at 4:03pm
Spend money, and… did you know that 95% of small business owners make less than $150K per year. Yep is a fact. No not like the right wings whose made numbers show most small business owners as millionaires.

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DIgnified
Posted on November 24, 2012 at 3:36pm
I think as long as the religious idiot media and base keep sucking Walmarts D, they shouldn’t even mention small businesses.

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- Fubared
  Posted on November 25, 2012 at 10:10am
  Some of us feel the self appointed important Godless heathens should be green and turned into polar bear chow.
  
  Report this comment
sta
Posted on November 24, 2012 at 1:29pm
I did my part. Bought a “Pathfinder” book to get my kids into a role playing club. 30.00

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peteasdf
Posted on November 24, 2012 at 12:51pm
Capitalism. If your small business offers the best product for the best price, I’ll buy it. No pity money.

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AbrahamsSheepdog
Posted on November 24, 2012 at 12:24pm
@Wango’s pantload. Answer me.

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marthasusan40
Posted on November 24, 2012 at 12:21pm
Mr. Obama, you didn’t build this, I did..www.wearamessage.com Faith, Hope & Charity, three words that can change your life. Check out my 100% made in the USA hand crafted sterling silver necklace.

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- DIgnified
  Posted on November 24, 2012 at 3:56pm
  Unless you mined the metals, smelted them, regained them, shaped them, on top of assembling the final item, you didn’t build that ether. Unless with a website link, you are talking about the internet in general. In which case you didn’t build that either. You overcharge for your item. $130 for $30 worth of sterling? Lol no. You assembling a handful of items others created isn’t worth a hundred. Maybe if you gave more than $10 to charity or gave more charity options. Go push your wares elsewhere lady.
  
  Report this comment
- Fubared
  Posted on November 24, 2012 at 4:16pm
  Dingyfied
  Al gore built the ether. Miscreant, you should bow down to manbearpig, he that brought you this vehicle to the ether.
  
  Report this comment
RodT82721
Posted on November 24, 2012 at 11:39am
There really was a time, and not all that long ago, that most people knew Christmas was coming and had enough sense to be able to go their store of choice and shop for what they wanted without the media hearding them.
Now it seems mob shopping has become a social event, egged on by media and of course the need for more dollars from the merchants.
So now we need a “Small business” day for the mom & pop’s to catch some of the borrowed money too.
We really have become a Nation of sheep.

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Megatron
Posted on November 24, 2012 at 11:16am
Nov. 27 is a tuesday. The photo for this article must be referring to the original small business saturday

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Megatron
Posted on November 24, 2012 at 11:14am
The Photo for this article says “Nov. 27-Small Business Saturday.”

Is Small Business Saturday this coming Tuesday?

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MrKnowItAll
Posted on November 24, 2012 at 10:38am
I can and WILL do anyone’s Offset Printing for half the price. Show me a Invoice and I will Print whatever you need for half the price and still make great money. Who cares? No One. You have Fed Ex, Kinko’s and Vista Print suckering you in. They ruined my Business. To everyone Buying Offset Printing. You are a Idiot for not shopping around. I’m here. I’m Honest. I get the Job correct every time. Who Cares? Nobody. It would take the fun out of someone who knows nothing about Printing taking your order. A guy like me who was taught in the basement from early childhood by my Father. Are to smart, efficient, fair and quality for people today to deal with. Very Sad.

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Commander8080
Posted on November 24, 2012 at 10:14am
Interesting a person takes whatever left over money they have from black Friday and goes visit small businesses on Saturday and pay the manufacturers suggested retail price if not more; just to keep the small business in business. Sounds about right! I very rarely see a small business participate in black Friday with sales or anything to get a customer in the store. All this talk about all business and helping the out is nothing more than American express helping themselves. If a all business want to compete in to today’s business then they need to compete and not take scraps from black Friday. They need to stand on their own 365 days a year

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Pantloadian
Posted on November 24, 2012 at 9:33am
Here’s an interesting fact – no small business ever created a job. Only demand creates jobs.

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- Zoe
  Posted on November 24, 2012 at 9:47am
  Those who speak in absolutes limit possibilities.
  
  I WILL create innovate product, take the risk & fish from the deep…… Peace!
  
  Report this comment
- AbrahamsSheepdog
  Posted on November 24, 2012 at 9:59am
  @ You Wango. -What did a troll ever create? A single teenage mom?
  
  Report this comment
- DadRocked
  Posted on November 24, 2012 at 10:22am
  Who You Crappin’ wango?
  
  Report this comment
- DadRocked
  Posted on November 24, 2012 at 10:28am
  I’d fill you in, for educational purposes, but I’ve read your posts before.
  Interesting thing about trolls, they know it all and spew it all…
  Kind of like the difference between a Thoroughbred and a harness horse.
  The latter has limited / restricted vision… Take the blinders off…
  
  Report this comment
- AbrahamsSheepdog
  Posted on November 24, 2012 at 10:31am
  @Dad Rocked. Hey I appologize for yesterday. We don’t always see eye 2 eye. But I respect that you care and are hardworking. Keep ridin bro
  
  Report this comment
- DadRocked
  Posted on November 24, 2012 at 10:40am
  DAWG – I saw that and sent you a comeback…
  
  Report this comment
- Pantloadian
  Posted on November 24, 2012 at 11:13am
  ZOE . . . No fish, no business.
  
  Report this comment
- Zoe
  Posted on November 24, 2012 at 12:29pm
  Hunt or be Hunted-
  
  Whales aren’t fish………
  
  Report this comment
- Zipit
  Posted on November 24, 2012 at 6:23pm
  Way to go WANG! Great comment from a guy who’s greatest accomplishment in business, is the theft of a shopping cart, from wich to collect aluminum cans along the roadside!!!
  
  Report this comment
ArmedAndReallyPissed
Posted on November 24, 2012 at 9:27am
“Seriously, the folks at Twitter really, really want Small Business Saturday to survive.
Twitter is offering $1 million in free ads for small businesses, writes Dylan Tweney for Venture Beat”…….
If Twitter really wants to help Small Business, they should take that one Million Dollars and use it to help change the voting system / eliminate voting fraud. If the right person was in the Jihad House ( formerly known as the White House ), the Economy would not be in this mess and on the verge of collapse.

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ArmedAndReallyPissed
Posted on November 24, 2012 at 9:17am
A New Ice Cream .**
In honor of the 44th President of the United States, Baskin-Robbins Ice
Cream has introduced a new flavor: Barocky Road.**
Barocky Road is a blend of half vanilla, half chocolate, and surrounded by
nuts and flakes. The vanilla portion of the mix is not openly advertised and
usually denied as an ingredient. The nuts and flakes are all very bitter and
hard to swallow.
The cost is $92.84 per scoop…so out of a hundred dollar bill you are at
least promised some CHANGE..!
When purchased it will be presented to you in a large beautiful cone, but
after you pay for it, the ice cream is taken away and given to the person in
line behind you at no charge.
You are left with an almost empty wallet, staring at an empty cone and
wondering what just happened. Then you realize this is what “redistribution
of wealth” is all about.
Stimulating, isn’t it?

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- Desron8
  Posted on November 24, 2012 at 11:11am
  I’ll pass on the Barocky Road ice cream cone. Had enough of it the last four years !
  
  Report this comment
AbrahamsSheepdog
Posted on November 24, 2012 at 9:08am
My local Not Called Small business has been hurt badly. Everyone past 1 1/2-2 yrs suddenly has a sob story. And turn into barter pros. I work & sell (give away) power sports. You know bikes, personal watercraft, 4 wheelers. Fun stuff Hardwork! Even with gas prices they just can’t afford a motorcycle. Thank God He gave me multiple skills.! My doggies gotta eat.

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- AbrahamsSheepdog
  Posted on November 24, 2012 at 9:14am
  Mr. Obama, we need an economy. Not, loans, credit, or tweeter. Any idiot can borrow $. Still think about Jobs????? Or just loans&regulations?
  
  Report this comment
- skimmer57
  Posted on November 24, 2012 at 9:34am
  If you feel the need to go out and support small business let me suggest buying a new pair of jeans that Glenn Beck is selling. For the low low cost of $129.99 you too can own a pair! We all know Glenn can use the money! But I find it ironic that Glenn tells us to be thrifty and to buy gold for the impending financial collapse yet Beck thinks it’s a great time to start selling $129.99 pairs of blue jeans! Money, money money. I guess a sucker is born everyday!
  
  Report this comment
- SamIamTwo
  Posted on November 24, 2012 at 10:03am
  I buy my cheap jeans at wallyworld. Sorry but no longer can afford to pay more and not eat. Must pay less and eat better.
  
  Competition will run you off…that is unless GB is only planning to sell only a min qty for those who can afford it while the rest of us poor folk buy from China. Oh well, at least we have choices. And I am certain GB won’t feel hurt by my decisions to stretch the dollar. Gotta keep the poor in china working.
  
  Report this comment
- AbrahamsSheepdog
  Posted on November 24, 2012 at 10:07am
  I won’t give more than 40 bucks for new “jeans” goodwill has pants for 10% of that on a good day. 5 bucks- slitely used-sure! I grew up poor. But I don’t take handouts Or blow 130 smackers on pants.
  
  Report this comment
RoscoePColtrane
Posted on November 24, 2012 at 9:02am
I find irony that American Express is the “sponsor” of Small Business Saturday. Many small businesses cant afford their outrageous fees, so they don’t accept AmEX.

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- AbrahamsSheepdog
  Posted on November 24, 2012 at 9:20am
  Nice name! Love the Dukes!
  
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- DadRocked
  Posted on November 24, 2012 at 10:34am
  Like the name too… Often think of Boss Hogg when I’m driving the boat.
  The boat is the ’74 El Dorado ragtop pictured as my avatar…
  
  Report this comment
- AbrahamsSheepdog
  Posted on November 24, 2012 at 10:59am
  Boss hog spoke like 7 languages. My dad always bragged how guy was a genius! Good actor too! :)
  
  Report this comment
- DadRocked
  Posted on November 24, 2012 at 11:11am
  Didn’t know that about him. Guess it makes sense… Being the BOSS HOGG that is…
  They had him in a ’70 Deville
  
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- AbrahamsSheepdog
  Posted on November 24, 2012 at 12:03pm
  Think those Duke boys were onta sumpin… still gotta hogg around hehehe And guess I gotta good song to look up. Maybe A Ringtone ;)
  
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- AbrahamsSheepdog
  Posted on November 24, 2012 at 12:14pm
  I still Love you Daisey Duke! In newer (and kinda dumb) movie she had a yamaha wr dirtbike- I love ya’ lady!
  
  Report this comment
- DadRocked
  Posted on November 24, 2012 at 12:39pm
  Seen Daisy Duke (Catherine Bach) lately? Here’s a pic from 2009 http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1171571/No-hotpants-Daisy-Dukes-Of-Hazzard-pin-Catherine-Bach-piles-pounds.html
  
  Good thing for memories…
  
  Report this comment
- AbrahamsSheepdog
  Posted on November 24, 2012 at 12:53pm
  @Dad. Wow. Get her on dancing with the stars. She’s a memory of better days..still my girl. Tough & sweet.
  
  Report this comment
TheMajority
Posted on November 24, 2012 at 8:44am
check check

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TheMajority
Posted on November 24, 2012 at 8:44am
Shoot, I never heard of this “Small business Saturday” holliday. I should have made a deal with my small business distributor for a sale today. But he is closed weekends. Jeeeech.

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- AbrahamsSheepdog
  Posted on November 24, 2012 at 10:14am
  Closed on barack friday weekend? Uhhhh ok. Hmm.
  
  Report this comment

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