Small businesses can boost consumer awareness, build on existing community support, and reach more holiday shoppers by participating in Small Business Saturday, an annual shopping holiday dedicated to supporting local companies.
American Express launched Small Business Saturday in 2010 and it encourages people to Shop Small in their local communities, especially during the holiday season. To help Americans find and support local small businesses, it created the Shop Small map that plots out participating small businesses across the country.
If you want to take part in American Express’s Shop Small map for Small Business Saturday 2022 (November 26, 2022), here’s what you need to know.
What is Small Business Saturday?
Small Business Saturday is the annual “shopping holiday” between Black Friday and Cyber Monday when consumers are encouraged to Shop Small at local small businesses in their communities. Sponsored by American Express and backed by legislation, it's a chance for small businesses across the country to increase their exposure at the start of the holiday shopping season.
In 2022, Small Business Saturday will take place on Saturday, November 26. Shoppers, business owners, and community leaders alike will come together to bring additional sales to small businesses to help their communities thrive. By supporting a local mom-and-pop business, its community may see a boost in jobs, contributions, investments, and more. Whether it’s purchasing a cup of coffee down the street or buying a gift from a local artist’s online shop, patrons can make a difference by shopping small.
[Read: How Any Business Can Make the Most of Small Business Saturday]
Small Business Saturday registration
Signing up for Small Business Saturday and adding your business to American Express’s Shop Small interactive map can be done in a few simple steps. First, submit your business’s Employer Identification Number (EIN) through American Express’s merchant profile page to verify your business. From there, confirm your shop’s location on the map (you’ll need to toggle on the “Show on Shop Small Map” option to see it). Then, log back in with your EIN to edit your information and change the location of the shop later if necessary.
Using the online Shop Small tools will also help you familiarize yourself with the online portals and identify ways you can attract shoppers through your own merchant profile.
For more information about signing up for Small Business Saturday, American Express created this instructional video to help small businesses complete the registration process.
Why sign up for Small Business Saturday?
Small Business Saturday is a great way to gain exposure at a time when small businesses need it most. Here are a few reasons why signing up can be incredibly beneficial for you and your small business:
Increase awareness of your business and reach a wider consumer base
During these times, every business needs as many sales as they can get. Participating in Small Business Saturday can, quite literally, put your business on the map and attract a greater number of customers through the holiday season.
American Express also reaches out to select businesses during the Small Business Saturday promotional period to feature them in video and social media content tied to the shopping holiday. This is yet another opportunity to expand your reach with AmEx’s large customer base.
Generate e-commerce sales
While Small Business Saturday started as a way to bring attention to local businesses, it can also help small retailers expand their national presence, as sales have shifted heavily toward e-commerce during COVID-19. By listing your business on the Shop Small map and participating in Small Business Saturday marketing initiatives, your business will have a wider audience for any online sales or promotions you may be running for the holiday season.
[Read: Retailers Bet on Virtual 'Shoppable Moments' to Drive Holiday Sales]
It’s free
There’s no fee to list your business on the Shop Small map. By registering, you can get a leg up this holiday season without any additional marketing spend — a huge perk at a time when most businesses are slashing their budgets and trying to save cash.
Learn more about how to make the most of this shopping holiday in our Small Business Saturday guide.
In many shoppers’ minds, “deals” are synonymous with “Small Business Saturday.” As you prepare events, products, displays and more, consider the coupons or special offers you’d like to feature and begin to advertise them.
8 ways to get involved in Small Business Saturday
Looking for more ways to get involved with Small Business Saturday? Here are some ideas.
1. Host an event.
Whether you host your own event, partner with another local business in a related industry, or attend a business alliance’s larger event, one of the most important ways to get involved with Small Business Saturday is to get out in front of potential customers in your community. Word of mouth and referrals remain one of the best ways to attract new customers and improve sales — in fact, Nielsen reported that 92% of consumers believe suggestions from friends and family more than advertising. So, organize an in-person or online event during Small Business Saturday, advertise to your most loyal customers, and offer a great experience.
2. Advertise on social media.
While word of mouth is a vital piece of marketing, social media should not be ignored. Join local business groups, partner with businesses in shoulder niches (i.e., a bakery partnering with a bookstore or a brewery partnering with a restaurant), or leverage your own social media following to advertise what your business will be doing or the deals you’ll be running for Small Businesses Saturday.
In the weeks leading up to Small Business Saturday, try posting different content types to widen the audience you reach. Create gift guides, tips for how to use your products, or source stories from real customers to diversify the regular sales-y content posted and connect authentically with your customers.
3. Plan the deals you want to offer.
In many shoppers’ minds, “deals” are synonymous with “Small Business Saturday.” As you prepare events, products, displays, and more, consider the coupons or special offers you’d like to feature and begin to advertise them. When creating the deal, though, ensure that it is a sound financial decision and doesn’t lose your business money.
4. Personalize experiences.
Customers love to have unique and customized shopping experiences. From the moment they enter your store to the customer service they experience and the packaging on the product they buy, it’s important to treat each consumer as your favorite and tailor their experience to their wants, needs, and likes. While it’s easier said than done, consider training your employees on taking the time to customize their approach to different customers and to practice offering great customer service.
5. Extend hours.
With employees returning to work on a normal or hybrid schedule, extending your hours on a weekend can help garner as much visibility as possible for your business. Customers value flexibility and personalized experiences (as mentioned above) so opening earlier/closing later and extending deals can help shoppers get the most out of their experience with you. Adding more ways to interact can be helpful too. If some consumers are uncomfortable shopping in person, add options for online or mobile app shopping.
6. Prepare your physical store.
If your business has a brick-and-mortar storefront, stock up on inventory of your best-selling products ahead of time to ensure there is enough to go around. Also consider scheduling extra workers during this time to help customers find what they are looking for, answer questions, and get to know the people behind your business.
If you are the only one running your business, stay focused and organized by creating to-do lists throughout the day. Additionally, create an email sign-up sheet at the register to help build your mailing list and hopefully turn these one-time patrons into loyal customers.
7. Start an email campaign.
Utilize your digital mailing list by using email marketing for the upcoming holiday. Create a series of emails before Small Business Saturday explaining why customers and prospects should visit your business. Your email series can include discounts and special offers, information about your business, and what customers can expect while shopping with you.
Plan the initial email announcing your participation in the holiday as soon as possible, followed by an email about a week prior, and lastly, a day or two right before the big day. Ensure your business is always at the top of your prospective customers’ inboxes.
8. Emphasize your small business identity.
Small Business Saturday exists for the community to support a business like yours, so highlight your identity as a small business during this holiday season. Recount the story of what inspired you to create your business, post it online, tell the customers at your store, and make it the center stone of your business.
Remind your community members this giving season how your product or service has impacted your community and what you have done to give back. Emphasize how your small business differs from large-scale companies but still provides high-quality products or services.
CO— aims to bring you inspiration from leading respected experts. However, before making any business decision, you should consult a professional who can advise you based on your individual situation.
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