There are over 31 million small businesses in the United States. This means that 31 million small businesses need to be supported by people like you in order to survive!

One way to support small businesses is during Small Business Saturday. If you haven’t heard of it, this article is for you!

Keep reading to learn more about Small Business Saturday and what you can do to help support all the small businesses you love!

What is Small Business Saturday?

Small Business Saturday is a day dedicated to supporting small businesses around the country. Since so many people support larger businesses on a daily basis, this is a day to remind you to support the smaller, lesser-known businesses.

American Express started this “holiday” in 2010 so that people will get out there and support the local businesses they love.

So when is Small Business Saturday? It is celebrated on the Saturday after Thanksgiving every single year.

Many small businesses actually have sales and participate in Small Business Saturday as well.

The history behind Small Business Saturday

Once American Express started this day in 2010, the next year, the Senate decided to step in. American Express decided to create this due to the recession in 2008, wanting to keep small businesses afloat even in tough times.

In 2011, the Senate passed a resolution to make this day one where everyone goes out and supports local businesses. Starting in 2015, the Small Business Administration stepped in to also support the day. The goal is to create jobs and keep local economies running.
Since the U.S. passed this resolution in 2011, the day has grown to be more and more popular, with more consumers than ever making purchases on Saturday.

One of the coolest parts about the history of Small Business Saturday in the U.S. is that it also inspired the U.K to start celebrating its own Small Business Saturday in December.

Small Business Saturday frequently asked questions

There are a lot of questions surrounding Small Business Saturday and what it really is! This section is meant to provide answers to most of your questions.

When is Small Business Saturday?

Small Business Saturday is on Saturday, November 26.

How can I get involved as a small business?

If you are a small business and want to get involved in Small Business Saturday, then you can check out American Express and all of their resources to help you. Most of getting involved just has to do with beginning to market your business and advertising digitally.

How can I promote my business on Small Business Saturday?

One of the best ways to market your small business for the day is through social media. This could be on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, or Twitter. Anything that gets the word out is helpful.

When advertising on social media, be sure to use small business Saturday hashtags so that other people can find you if they are searching for businesses to support. You also want to make sure that you have a small business Saturday post leading up to the day so people are aware you are participating in the day!

Promoting through teasers and countdowns to your sales will get people excited about what you have to offer on Small Business Saturday. Using a Small Business Saturday meme may also help garner attention from current customers and attract more!

In addition to using social media, you should also send an email to already existing customers. You can compose a Small Business Saturday email that includes any offers or promotions you have going on for the day.

Will participating in the day actually help my business?

Odds are that participating will help you! Consumers tend to spend a lot of money on Small Business Saturday. 58% of consumers said that they had bought something from a small business on the day in 2020, whether online or in stores.

Astonishing Coffee Co. celebrated #SmallBusinessSaturday by showing a picture of their stand and summarizing their experience:

How else can I get the word out there about my business?

If you accept American Express as a business and have fewer than 500 employees, then you can get on the Shop Small Map. Shoppers can view this map to see which businesses they should support!

Post flyers around town as well! This way, anyone who walks around town will know where to go. On Small Business Saturday, you can also put a sign out pointing people to come into your business.

How will my business be successful on Small Business Saturday?

If you put a ton of effort into the marketing of your business for Small Business Saturday, you want to ensure that the day is actually successful. But how?

First and foremost, set goals. This will ensure that you know what you are reaching for, and then you can plan for how to get there.

Second, you want to make sure you have enough inventory to support the influx of customers. It’s always better to have more than you anticipate just in case! Be sure to make these orders as early as possible since the holiday season can get really busy with all businesses.

Everything you need to know about Small Business Saturday

Small Business Saturday has been around for over 11 years, and every year it grows more and more in popularity.

As a business, you want to make sure you are participating. And as a consumer, you should participate to support small and local businesses!

If you need help marketing your business for this year, don’t wait to start! Contact us today at Sprout Social so we can help you get the word out about your business before it’s too late!