Annually held on the weekend after Thanksgiving, Small Business Saturday is a federally recognized holiday that supports small business across the United States. Since its inception in 2010 from American Express, Small Business Saturday has grown to become a national celebration of small business, and we would love for you to be a part of this year’s Small Business Saturday too! Save the date, November 24th, it’s just around the corner!
Small Businesses generated roughly $12 Billion from 108 million consumers during Small Business Saturday 2017, and money raised from small business goes directly back into the local economy. According to Civic Economics, 48% of each purchase made at a small business is recirculated back into the local economy. Any purchase you make at a small business will help you, the business, and the entire community in return, so partaking in Small Business Saturday could be a great way to help everyone!
Want to find out how you can support small businesses this year? Check out American Express’s map of businesses participating in Small Business Saturday 2018 and CBS Pittsburgh’s articles about Small Business Saturday. Make sure to check your local small businesses for any promotions they might be doing for the holiday! In years past, countless small businesses like Simple Sugars and I Made It! Market have offered discounts on their products. Also, several neighborhoods like Downtown, Oakland, and Squirrel Hill have had dedicated events or free parking for Small Business Saturday, so there’s a good chance your local small businesses and neighborhoods will have some promotion!
Are you a small business who wants to participate in Small Business Saturday? You can participate on your own by promoting the holiday, and you can also apply to American Express’s Shop Small Studio. American Express can provide you with downloadable posters, email templates, and social posts for no cost, and you can sign up for the Shop Small Studio here!
The Institute for Entrepreneurial Excellence at the University of Pittsburgh is proud to support small business on Small Business Saturday, but our service to small business lasts the whole year round! If you are looking to start a small business, we recommend our Two Step Workshops! The First Step covers the Mechanics of Starting a Small Business, while the Second Step covers Developing a Business Plan.
If you are already an established small business owner who is interested in managing your long-term growth and success, we recommend you attend our 2019 Community Power to Prosper Program! Also, our BizFIT program at the Riverside Center for Innovation combines strategy, connections, and expertise to enable disadvantaged entrepreneurs to grow sustainable enterprises.
On November 24th, please have a happy and supportive Small Business Saturday!