Thanksgiving is next week (gasp), which means ads are flying here and there for the biggest shopping day of the year – Black Friday. But for small business owners, the following day might be even more important. Saturday, November 24, 2012 is Small Business Saturday.
I am not anti-big guy, in fact I love big stores (hello, Tar-jay!), but there are just some things that the big guys can’t offer. Like childhood memories from Max’s Pastries (I am drooling just thinking about the homemade strudel and almond rolls that remind me of Christmas morning), some things can’t be replicated. Max’s Pastries has been part of our family Christmas tradition for more than… well, I don’t ever remember a Christmas morning without almond roll, so a long time. Over the years I’ve had almond roll elsewhere, but nothing compares to our local bakery.
In addition to offering unique products and services, small businesses have the added benefit of the personal touch. From girl at the counter of the local deli who knows your regular order by heart to the boutique owner who knows just what new items to show you when you walk through the door, small business often equals big service. And isn’t that something we all want these days? Not to mention that supporting small businesses also means supporting your neighbor. From local bakeries and boutiques, small businesses are not only owned by local operators, they keep our friends and neighbors employed.
For the third year, American Express is supporting the little guy by offering its customers a $25 statement credit when they shop at a local small business on Small Business Saturday. It’s a great way that one of the “big guys” shows its support of local communities by encouraging people to shop small. (If you are an AMEX cardholder, you can register your card to participate starting 11/18/12.)
But the initiative isn’t just for AMEX customers, last year more than one hundred million people shopped small on Small Business Saturday – that’s a lot of shoppers helping support their local communities and getting great service in the process. You can be part of the movement by visiting ShopSmall.com to find small businesses in your area that you might not even be aware of.
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.