Five Tips to help have a Successful Small Business Saturday

The morning after Thanksgiving may mark the traditional start of the holiday shopping season, but a growing number of shoppers are bypassing the malls and chain stores to find unique gives and support their friends and neighbors by shopping small on Small Business Saturday. Thanksgiving is two weeks from today. Small Business Saturday, the Saturday after Thanksgiving, is Nov. 24. “If local merchants play their cards right, they can use Small Business Saturday to attract customers who’ll keep coming all year long,” NFIB State Director Ben Homeyer said. State-specific data isn’t available, but last year, 108 million shoppers spent $12.9 billion at small, independent stores and restaurants the Saturday after Thanksgiving, according to a survey by NFIB and American Express. Ninety percent of consumers surveyed said Small Business Saturday has a positive impact on their communities. Here are some of the ways shops and restaurants can make the most of Small Business Saturday. Stay on top of your social media. If you’re on Facebook or Twitter or Instagram or Pinterest, post often and promote any Small Business Saturday deals. Use the hashtags #ShopSmall and #SmallBizSat so shoppers can find you easily. Showcase the merchandise that would make a great gift. Group items on a table with a sign saying it would be the perfect gift for Dad or a great gift for the grandparents. Restaurants can offer Small Business Saturday specials and gift cards. Steal a page from the Black Friday playbook and offer doorbusters. Chain stores know a great way to drive shoppers to their stores is by offering special deals at different times of the day. There’s no reason a small business can’t do the same thing. Partner with nearby businesses. Pool your resources to buy advertising promoting the neighborhood as a shopping destination or team up with other businesses on in-store promotions. For example, if they buy a pair of shoes here, let them know they can save 10 percent on socks next door. Don’t forget to tell your regular customers about Small Business Saturday. Put a sign in your shop and flyers in bags reminding folks to come back the Saturday after Thanksgiving for special deals. Download free “Shop Small” signs from www.americanexpress.com/us/small-business/shop-small/promote. NFIB is the state’s leading small-business association. To learn more, visit www.NFIB.com/SC.