Small Business Saturday in Downtown Glendale

Small Business Saturday continues to be an annual holiday shopping tradition — just one part of the larger shop small movement to support small businesses every day and everywhere.  Traditionally held the Saturday after Thanksgiving, Historic Downtown Glendale’s shops and restaurants will celebrate Small Business Saturday on Nov. 24, 2018 starting at 10 a.m. Small Business Saturday is the perfect opportunity to shop for unique holiday gifts, enjoy a leisurely lunch with family and friends, all while supporting locally owned businesses. Event attendees are encouraged to start their day at the Portable Information Booth fondly nicknamed ‘Mrs. PIB.’ The booth will be located at the corner of 58th Drive and Palmaire Ave. from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Knowledgeable Downtown Docents will welcome visitors to the event and provide walking maps and downtown shopping and dining information. The booth features a bright green umbrella and picket fence décor.

Small Business Saturday showcases the importance of shopping and dining locally. A visit to the family-owned specialty boutique or a stop at the neighborhood ice cream shop not only supports the local economy, but also promotes a thriving community. 

Dollars spent with local businesses stay in the local economy and community longer than dollars spent with non-local businesses. For every $100 spent at a locally owned business, $43 remains in the economy. In comparison, for every $100 spent at a non-locally owned business, only $13 remains in the economy. These extra dollars circulating in the community are an investment in local job creation and preserving diverse and prosperous communities.

The locally-owned, small businesses in Downtown Glendale continue to contribute to a unique sense of place and bring community pride. Historic Downtown Glendale is rooted in the community and is the backdrop for award-winning festivals. Visitors to Small Business Saturday are encouraged to stay into the evening to enjoy the Glendale Glitters Opening Weekend festivities. Now in its 25th year, the 1.6 million Glendale Glitters holiday lights illuminate the historic area.

For more information about Historic Downtown Glendale including shopping, dining and events, visit www.VisitDowntownGlendale.com.

Tempe Chamber of Commerce joins Small Business Saturday

The Tempe Chamber of Commerce announced it has joined the Small Business Saturday Coalition and that it will, together with American Express, support this year’s Small Business Saturday celebration, which takes place on Nov 24. Small Business Saturday is a day dedicated to supporting the independent businesses that make our communities unique and provide invaluable contributions to our economy.

The Tempe Chamber will be promoting Small Business Saturday® via social media and their communications, encouraging its members and the Tempe community to support local small businesses. The Chamber is encouraging businesses to take selfies of shoppers on November 24 with them, their staff, signage, or unique finds and share their photos on social media using #shopsmalltempe & #shopsmall. At the end of the day, the social media push helps spread the word about small businesses in Tempe nationwide.

Created by American Express in 2010, Small Business Saturday serves as the ceremonial kickoff to the holiday shopping season for small businesses across the United States. In 2017, an estimated 108 million consumers reported shopping or dining at local, independently-owned businesses on Small Business Saturday, according to the Small Business Saturday Consumer Insights Survey. The most reported reason for consumers aware of the day to shop and dine at small, independently-owned businesses on the day was to support their community (64%), according to the 2017 Small Business Saturday 50-State Survey.

Merchants and consumers can learn more about Small Business Saturday and how to get involved by visiting ShopSmall.com.