The holiday season is upon us, and with that comes the hustle and bustle of holiday shopping! Shopping during Small Business Saturday is a great way to support local businesses while making a positive impact on your local community! Take on the streets of your town this Small Business Saturday with these tips!
Small Business Saturday was created as a way for small businesses to shine and thrive during the holiday season. Following Thanksgiving and Black Friday, Small Business Saturday was established to empower small businesses and keep customers shopping locally.
This holiday season check out your local businesses for deals, coupons, and special sales taking place on Small Business Saturday. When preparing to shop, use these five tips to ensure you make the most of Small Business Saturday.
1. Map Your Route
Check the local newspaper, store websites, and Facebook pages to find out if any of your local businesses are advertising specials for Small Business Saturday. Once you decide on the stores you want to visit, check their hours of operation and their location. This will allow you to map out your day, so you get to each store on time to get what you are looking for.
2. Look for Deals
Because everyone loves a good deal! Once you find participating businesses, you can visit the business’ personal website or social media page to see what deals and coupons they may be offering that day. Most small businesses offer coupons, specialty items, gifts, or in-store experiences.
3. Arrive Early
Like any holiday shopping, getting there early is a no-brainer. Just like Black Friday, there are sure to be lines of people eager to get gifts for their loved ones. Nothing is worse than having a gift in mind, getting to the store, and seeing that the item you wanted is no longer in stock. If the store sells out of an item you had your eye on, the beauty of shopping locally is the relationship building process as well! Check with the store associates to see if they can get your item in stock before the holidays, and they might even honor the Small Business Saturday discount!
4. Be Prepared with Multiple Forms of Payment
Most stores take some type of card payment, but it’s recommended to bring multiple forms of payment including cash and checks. Some small businesses like to avoid hefty credit card fees and run a cash-only business. It’s best to be prepared for both!
5. Make Time for Last-Minute Preparations
This could include gathering your reusable shopping bags, checking the weather, getting your checklist finalized, or getting out your comfortable shoes. Whatever your last-minute prep looks like, make sure you are ready to take on the day of shopping.
