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Small Business. Big Communities!


The name “Small Business Saturday” was coined by American Express, but communities across the country have made it their own. What began as a nationwide event to encourage shoppers to spend at local businesses, has evolved into a movement that extends beyond the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Small Business Saturday begins its fi fth year in 2014 and serves as a reminder to consumers to “shop local” not only during the holidays, but year round. The day is recognized by Congress, endorsed by the SBA and supported by American Express and the National Federation of Independent Business. The Department of Commerce offi cially promotes the day on its calendar, and chambers of commerce and small-business bureaus around the country have adopted the day. Calling small businesses the backbone of the nation’s economy, the SBA says that America’s 28 million small businesses create two out of every three net new private sector jobs, with half of


Winter Park, FL


The Park Avenue Merchants Association included funds in the 2013 budget for promoting Small Business Saturday. In an effort to make this a community event, they began with a mayoral proclamation in May and proceeded to plan a block party for November 30 that included radio ads and production of a video to highlight businesses on Park Avenue. The video began airing on YouTube and social media sites at the beginning of November. The Park Avenue Merchants Association has 105 members and the businesses were listed on a map handed out with tote bags and other promotional items received from American Express.


Lorrie Schlosser, co-owner of Synergy on Park Ave. in Winter Park, hands out merchant maps and tote bags on Small Business Saturday.


160 GIFT SHOP n Winter 2014 GiftShopMag.com


working Americans either owning or working for a small business.


Love thy neighbor! With fewer shopping days between Thanksgiving and Christmas in 2013, small businesses looking to expand the attention focused on Small Business Saturday banded together as neighbors and communities to get the most out of the shop local initiative during the fi nal quarter of 2013.


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