incentives to support small retailers on Small Business Saturday.
Small Business Saturday, which falls between Black Friday and Cyber
Monday, is fast becoming the ceremonial kick-off to the holiday season
for small, independently-owned businesses.
Consumers will be able to support small businesses in their
communities while cashing in on some amazing deals. Small businesses
around the country are offering special promotions, hosting events and
finding ways to reward their customers. American Express is offering a
$25 statement credit to a limited number of Cardmembers who pre-
register their eligible American Express Card on www.facebook.com/SmallBusinessSaturday
, and then spend at least $25 at a small business on Small Business
Saturday with their registered Card. And FedEx distributed 40,000 $25
Shop-Small-branded gift cards through www.facebook.com/Fedex, to drive
more business to small retailers on Small Business Saturday. The gift
cards were snapped up in less than one hour.
To help registered Cardmembers take full advantage of the $25
statement credit, the Small Business Saturday Facebook page includes a
map of small businesses where the card offer is accepted. The
interactive map allows consumers to find local businesses and "like"
their favorites directly through the "Get Involved" tab. Consumers
are encouraged to search for new small businesses in their
neighborhoods, give shout-outs to their favorite small businesses, and
most importantly, "shop small" on Small Business Saturday and
throughout the holidays.
"Last year, independent merchants who accept American Express saw an
average boost in sales of 28% on Small Business Saturday[i]," said
Mary Ann Fitzmaurice Reilly, senior vice president at American Express
OPEN. "Shoppers sent a clear message that shopping local is an
important part of the holiday season and small businesses are
rewarding that loyalty with what their customers care about most–
superior service, unique selection and some great deals."
This year, Women Impacting Public Policy (WIPP), a nonpartisan
organization which educates and advocates on behalf of women-owned
businesses, will organize Small Business Saturday events in 15 U.S.
cities on November 26 to drive even more customers into small
businesses. Americans will gather in neighborhoods around the country
to show their support for the day and the local small businesses they
patronize all year long. Consumers and small businesses in these 15
cities are encouraged to join the festivities. From holiday
celebrations to block parties, the events will take place in:
· Boston (Roslindale)
· Charlotte (South End)
· Chicago (Hyde Park)
· Cincinnati (Over the Rhine)
· Fort Worth (Sundance Square)
· Detroit (Midtown, New Center, Downtown/Business District,
Eastern Market)
· Los Angeles (Culver City)
· Miami (Coral Gables)
· New York (TriBeCa)
· Philadelphia (Manayunk)
· Scottsdale (The Plaza on South Bridge and Old Farmer's Market)
· San Diego (North Park)
· San Francisco (North Beach)
· Seattle (Edmonds)
· Washington, DC (Adams Morgan)
Shoppers in New York, Chicago and San Francisco can also take
advantage of shopping guides found on www.facebook.com/SmallBusinessSaturday
under the "City Guides" tab on the left side of the page. The deals
featured in the guides–sourced by trend-spotting PAPER Magazine–are
for all shoppers, not just those with American Express cards.
More than 200 advocacy organizations are all part of the Small
Business Saturday Coalition, whose mission is to inspire business
owners and communities across the country to embrace Small Business
Saturday and get the word out about the importance of shopping at
small, independently owned businesses all year long.
About Small Business Saturday
November 26th marks the second annual Small Business Saturday, a day
to support the local businesses that create jobs, boost the economy
and preserve neighborhoods around the country. Small Business Saturday
(SBS) was created in 2010 in response to small business owners' most
pressing need: creating more demand for their products and services. A
total of 1.5 million Facebook users, 130 public and private
organizations, and 41 elected officials declared their support for SBS
last year. More than 100,000 small businesses downloaded SBS marketing
materials, 10,000 businesses signed up for free Facebook advertising
that ran on SBS, and around 200,000 consumers registered their
American Express cards to receive $25 statement credits when they
shopped at a small business on SBS. American Express is the founding
sponsor of Small Business Saturday.
About American Express OPEN®
American Express OPEN is the leading payment card issuer for small
businesses in the United States and supports business owners with
products and services to help them run and grow their businesses. This
includes business charge and credit cards that deliver purchasing
power, flexibility, rewards, savings on business services from an
expanded lineup of partners and online tools and services designed to
help improve profitability. Learn more at www.OPEN.com and connect
with us at openforum.com and twitter.com/openforum.
American Express is a global services company, providing customers
with access to products, insights and experiences that enrich lives
and build business success. Learn more at www.americanexpress.com
and connect with us on www.facebook.com/americanexpress, www.twitter.com/americanexpress
and www.youtube.com/americanexpress.
