WEST PLAINS, MO – Ozarks Small Business Incubator (OzSBI) will be celebrating Small Business Saturday on November 27th by promoting the special events and promotions offered by small businesses in our area. Small Business Saturday, which is observed on the last Saturday of November, was created by American Express during the 2010 recession to encourage people to Shop Small and bring more holiday shopping to small businesses. According to Heather W. Fisher, OzSBI CEO, this movement “supports the local economy with 48% of every purchase made at locally owned business being recirculated, helping small stores succeed and growing our economy exponentially compared to chain stores.”
Shopping small this holiday season is more important than ever: according to the American Express Shop Small Impact survey, 78% of small business owners have stated that holiday sales will affect their ability to stay open in 2022. Consumers who shop small this holiday season are forecasted to contribute an estimated $695B into the U.S. small business economy, enough to make a significant impact in the small business community.
Business entrepreneurs can increase their visibility this holiday season by going to the American Express website and using their Shop Small Studio to register. The Shop Small Studio has a free template to make signs and social media posts for businesses for the holiday season, as well as other helpful marketing materials. In addition, they also have a Shop Small Map, which is a free map of small businesses that accept American Express, so holiday shoppers can easily find participating independent retailers.
In addition to all of these great resources, American Express has launched an online marketplace in conjunction with ByBlack, a non-profit platform that helps find and support black owned businesses. This marketplace, Shop Small x ByBlack, has made it possible for black-owned businesses to reach new customers and unlock new opportunities while making their products readily available.
OzSBI encourages individuals to invest in their community by shopping at locally owned small businesses. These businesses are depending on the local community to stay open and support their families. OzSBI would love for you to help us promote the special events and promotions offered by small businesses in our area. You can take advantage of the free publicity OzSBI will be offering for Shop Small Saturday by messaging us at facebook.com/ozsbi or by emailing us at info@ozsbi.com.
