NFIB reminds us to take advantage of the event’s 10th anniversary with five tips
Gov. Jay Inslee has made it official: November 30 is Small Business Saturday here in Washington state.
Begun by American Express in 2010 to draw attention to the multitude of shopping opportunities awaiting consumers along the Main Streets of the nation, Small Business Saturday purposely positioned itself in between Black Friday and Cyber Monday, and last year brought in a record $17.8 billion in sales to independent retailers and restaurants, according to research conducted by Amex and NFIB.
“Not every state has given Small Business Saturday its official imprimatur, so I commend the governor for giving it Washington’s,” said Patrick Connor, Washington state director for NFIB, the nation’s leading small-business association. “Every little bit of recognition helps many small-business owners who count on holiday sales to meet payroll into next year.”
Connor offered five simple tips that NFIB members and other small-business owners might use to attract more shoppers and purchasers:
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 merchandise that would make a great gift. Group items on a table with a sign saying it would be the perfect gift for Mom or a great gift for the grandparents. Restaurants can offer Small Business Saturday specials and gift cards.
Offer doorbusters. Chain stores know a great way to drive shoppers to their stores is by offering exclusive 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. Create and download free custom marketing materials at https://amex.co/36yU20E.
Keep up with the latest Washington state small-business news at www.nfib.com/washington or by following NFIB on Twitter @NFIB_WA or on Facebook @NFIB.WA
For more than 75 years, NFIB has been advocating on behalf of America’s small and independent business owners, both in Washington, D.C., and in all 50 state capitals. NFIB is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, and member-driven association. Since our founding in 1943, NFIB has been exclusively dedicated to small and independent businesses and remains so today. For more information, please visit nfib.com
– NFIB
The self-owned and -operated business is the freest life in the world. – Paul Hawken
