Go Local on Shop Small Saturday

It’s funny to think about. Not even a day after being thankful and celebrating with family, friends and neighbors, at midnight, sometimes earlier, people will enter big box stores to become obsessed with holiday shopping and saving a buck. More often than not, kicking and pushing other shoppers in order to obtain their “precious” commodities.

Fortunately there is another option. In a time when people are simultaneously angry at the state of the world and concerned with organic eating and no-waste living, we can choose to be better humans, neighbors and shoppers by sending a message of support and participating in campaigns like Small Business Saturday.

Saturday, November 25, will mark the 7th annual nationwide Small Business Saturday. Wedged between other holiday shopping events like Black Friday and Cyber Monday, shoppers are encouraged to shop and dine local with small businesses. Many will be offering incentives to encourage shoppers to participate. Frog and Toad on Hope Street is giving away one in-house designed patch with every purchase, while Queen of Hearts and Modern Love on Westminster will offer free mimosas while you shop!

If you want to go hardcore bulk-small-bizness (which seems almost oxymoronic), there is a Small Business Showcase happening at the Crowne Plaza in Warwick (801 Greenwich Ave, 9am – 4pm) which combines the forces of over 100 small businesses like a small-biz collection of Power Rangers. Does that officially make them a large business? You can decide at this event, which includes Farm Fresh RI, Social Venture Enterprises, Jewelry makers, crafts, custom wood products, books, pretzels and goat milk. Sponsored by the Photographic Society of RI, admission is free (see our center spread for a long list of craft and art fairs filling out the year).

With backing from the city of Providence’s coinciding #ThinkPVD campaign, which encourages residents and visitors to “think, shop and buy locally,” everyone will be able to take advantage of #ThinkPVD’s most popular and reoccurring incentive: two free hours of parking for shopping and dining in commercial districts from #SmallBizSat until New Year’s Day.

The US Small Business Administration, which provides technical assistance, capital access and more for small businesses through education and small business partners, hopes the holiday shopping season will help local small businesses reach year-end sales goals. SBA economic development specialist Ryan Brissette said, “It’s a huge event we promote to help small businesses reach the black.” The 2014 census reported more than 8,000 small retail businesses across our small state, which employ more than 18,000 people. SBA district director Mark S. Hayward stated that, “95.8% of employers in Rhode Island are small businesses. These are your friends, your family and your neighbors, and by shopping small, you are sending a message that we support you.”

It’s easy to ignore the little things. But in our small state, it’s the small that will make the bigger impact toward building a strong community and a better economic future for everyone involved. Consider shopping and dining at your local small businesses this holiday season and throughout the year and see how big you’ll feel.

For more information, go to sbsshopri.com/about.php