Shop local on small business Saturday

Published 7:00 am Wednesday, November 23, 2016

It’s the day after Black Friday, and while the rush of getting all the best deals has you run down and ready for a relaxing day, you should be inclined to get some more holiday shopping accomplished.

That’s right, this Saturday is Shop Small Saturday, the national effort established by a credit card company to promote small businesses. The effort began in 2010 by American Express, and has since been adopted by not only small businesses and communities nationwide, but also by the U.S. Senate when it passed a resolution the following year in support.

So, what can you do to help support Shop Small Saturday? That’s simple. Head to your favorite locally owned store and buy gifts for your loved ones. Many of these stores may also offer gift certificates, which would make a great gift for just about anyone on your nice list.

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If you are a local business owner, here are some tips to help entice customers to stop in.

First of all, if your business does not have a Facebook “like” page, set one up. Some small business owners make the mistake of creating a “friend” page for their business, not knowing that such a page can, and will, be removed from the social media website.

If you have mistakenly set up a “friend” page instead of a “like” page for a business, a search can provide simple steps to make the change.

Now that the proper page has been established on social media, use the hastag #shopsmall when posting sales and offers. Doing so will make them searchable, and therefore easier to find. Post photos of the products the business offers, especially those that will be on sale. Use photos that are clear and make the product easy to see.

Specialty businesses may want to post videos with helpful information about the products offered, while restaurants will certainly want to post pictures of the menu and daily specials offered.

Most of all, have fun. Shop Small Saturday is meant to help local businesses succeed, and introduce the community to places close to home where hard-earned dollars will support the local economy.