Small Business Saturday 2014

Today is Small Business Saturday.  I skipped observing the day specifically last year, covering all the shopping days of the long weekend in KPBS on retail desperation.  This year, I return to KPBS with two videos.  First, Small Business Saturday Keeps Money In the Local Economy.


Next, San Diego Small Businesses Are Banking On Saturday Shoppers.

The Saturday after Thanksgiving is designated Small Business Saturday, a day created by American Express to encourage shoppers to buy local. In San Diego, many businesses are hoping shoppers will spend money at their stores.

That's what the day looks like in San Diego.  Follow over the jump for how it's playing out here in Detroit.

WWJ-TV gives a good overview in ‘Small Business Saturday’ Looks To Put Local Operations In The Spotlight.

Small Business Saturday is a national initiative that marks a day to support the local businesses that create jobs, boost the economy, and preserve neighborhoods around the country.

Last year, Small Business Saturday gave a boost to Main Street merchants, as consumers who were aware of Small Business Saturday spent an estimated $5.7 billion with independent merchants.

Detroit Experience Factory and Build Institute are hosting the 11th annual Shop Detroit in partnership with American Express’ Small Business Saturday. The event encourages people to shop at Detroit stores, not just for the holidays, but all year long. Shop Detroit will take place Saturday, November 29 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The Detroit News has more, both on the day in general and on the even in Metro Detroit stores embrace Small Business Saturday.

Optimism is increasing, according to American Express OPEN's 2014 Small Business Holiday Monitor. Of the 505 businesses surveyed, 36 percent said they expected their holiday sales to be strong this season, up from 22 percent last year.

To be sure, many small businesses have been doing their own holiday-themed sales on Small Business Saturday for decades, and some stores have even banded together. But the concept of Small Business Saturday really got its footing after American Express got involved in 2010 as a major sponsor, said [Nichole] Leinbach Reyhle.

"It's big to have something so nationally recognized powered by a company like American Express that can afford to do commercials and other things," she said. "These companies can leverage this type of media attention and can lean on it to (increase) their sales."

All of the above is looking ahead.  To place the day in the context of Black Friday, watch the video at WDIV's Black Friday wraps up as Small Business Saturday kicks off.  Unfortunately, it won't embed here, although it does live up to the subtitle of "as stores reopen Saturday, mom-and-pop shops hope for plenty of sales."

I'm glad local news outlets are promoting local business.  As my students answer one of the final questions in the worksheet for "The End of Suburbia," the future is likely to be local instead of global.