Think Small this Saturday

You’ve heard about Black Friday and Cyber Monday, but how about Small Business Saturday? Designated as the Saturday after Thanksgiving, Small Business Saturday is a day when consumers are encouraged to shop local as they tackle those holiday gift and supply lists.

Small businesses are the lifeblood of our community. According to the FAQs on the Small Business Saturday Web site, a small businesses can exist in a variety of forms, from corner stores to food trucks to online boutiques. They can have a handful of employees or be up to 150 employees strong. They give a neighborhood strength and create vibrant, diverse communities. Emporia is blessed to have numerous small businesses throughout the city, many of which will take part in Small Business Saturday festivities.

Emporia’s vibrant downtown is home to many small, local businesses, shops and restaurants. Here you’ll find unique goods that reflect Emporia and the surrounding communities. Boutiques offer the perfect ensembles for all those holiday parties; sporting goods stores cater to the cycling, disc golf, or other sports enthusiast on your list; talented florists can create exactly what you want to give or to decorate your home for the holidays; gift shops offer unique gift ideas; book stores cater to the bibliophile and casual reader alike; and so much more.

Supporting our local businesses year-round is important, of course, but consider Small Business Saturday as an opportunity to do so en masse. Since its inception in 2010, this special day has become the biggest sales day of the year for many small companies. According to American Express, which spearheads Small Business Saturday, 112 million consumers shopped small on the big day last year. That’s a 13 percent increase from 2015.

Adding a sweet incentive to shopping local, are several downtown businesses that are participating in the second annual Sugar Stroll organized by Emporia Main Street.  With the purchase of a Sugar Stroll box, shoppers can pick up a free sweet treat at participating businesses that day. The perfect pick-me-up while working your way through your gift list. The boxes can be purchased from Emporia Main Street at 727 Commercial, from 9:00 a.m.-noon (or until sold out) for $5 each. Proceeds from the sale of boxes will go towards purchasing replacement holiday lighting for the downtown area. Each Sugar Stroll box includes a map of participating businesses along with special sales for Small Business Saturday. A Sugar Stroll Box is required to receive treats and a limited number are available!

Small Business Saturday comes but once a year. Make it count!