On the Saturday after Thanksgiving, American Express sponsors Small Business Saturday; a chance to encourage folks to support small businesses and entrepreneurs right after the huge retail blitz of Black Friday.
This year, they have partnered with Uber to offer free rides to shoppers who use UberPOOL in New York City. When American Express cardholders in any of the five boroughs use the code SMALLBIZSAT, they will get a free UberPOOL ride for up to $20. Through the end of 2016, first-time Uber users can use the code SHOPSMALL2016 to get their first ride free, again up to the value of $20.
A “Shop Small map” on the Amex website gives folks ideas about where to go to start their small business holiday shopping on November 26, the date of Small Business Saturday.
Millions of Americans Shop Small
According to the Small Business Saturday Consumer Insights Survey conducted in 2015, about 95 million Americans participated in the event last year, spending an estimated $16.2 billion. That’s a 14% increase over 2014. The first Small Business Saturday was held in 2010, making this year the seventh annual event.
President Obama has even gotten in on the Shop Small movement, going to an independent bookstore in Washington, DC, to buy books with his daughters on the Saturday after Thanksgiving.
Seven years of Small Business Saturday
Elizabeth Rutledge, an executive vice president at American Express, said the company is excited at how the movement has grown over the years. “When all of us rally to support the small businesses that make our neighborhoods unique, the impact is truly inspiring,” said Rutledge. “This year, we want all kinds of small businesses to get involved…so we’ve created even more ways for Americans to participate in Small Business Saturday, whether you’re a night owl or a morning person.”
These include dance and yoga sessions with Daybreaker, an early morning dance movement. Daybreaker offers parties in New York City, San Francisco, and Chicago, in which participants start the day with a workout and dance party, complete with DJs, yoga, food and beverages.
For the evening crowd, The Infatuation is an online platform that helps folks find the best restaurants in their communities. They will host special restaurant nights in New York City, Los Angeles, Washington, DC, and San Diego. They will feature special Small Business Saturday menus.