Local businesses embrace Small Business Saturday

“They usually have unique gifts”, Mountain Brook resident Mary Jane Dillard said.

Since these stores rely on the word-of-mouth marketing technique and social media, Small Business Saturday boosts their visibility.

And Rapid City business owners say it’s important to keep business in the community.

The hashtag #ShopSmallShopLocal was trending on social media, helping small businesses go the extra mile to compete with big name retailers. But this year’s sixth annual Small Business Saturday will be missing one key factor: incentives for American Express credit card holders, the Chicago Tribune reported Friday. The store has given away 2,000 books since August.

“Every dollar that’s made here stays in the community and that betters the community later down the road”, said Katie Giddens.

“You can see the decorations in the store”.

In the past, American Express, which began the promotion in 2010, offered a statement credit from $10 to $30 for card users who shopped local on “Small Business Saturdays”.

Trendy Tot’s is a local businesses that buys and re-sells anything and everything for children. “We’re kind of, I think, second on the list, but always for sure a stop during this holiday weekend for our customers”, Shoe Closet Owner Becky Lindemann said. Local shops typically invest far more into their community by using local vendors, employing local people and keeping their profits close to home instead of shipping them to an out-of-town headquarters. Miller said he hopes Small Business Saturday will help his store attract new customers.

” I try and shop as local as I can. Saturday’s a great opportunity to juts get to know your hometown stores, because we’ve got some great ones down here”, says Johnson.