Celebrating Small Business Saturday 2017
Tis’ the season to be spending. In a matter of days, we have Black Friday, Shop Small Saturday, Cyber Monday and Giving Tuesday. It is a challenge to budget accordingly and plan efficiently to make the most of this pre-holiday madness. According to CNBC shoppers spent over $640 million dollars online before 10AM yesterday for Black Friday and 7News Boston reported that some deal-seekers braved battled more than 5 hours of traffic to reach Wrentham Outlets to partake in the shopping tradition.
Today we celebrate an American Express (the least friendly vendor card) manufactured holiday (move over Hallmark): Small Business Saturday! And while the intent behind its inception may have been done for nefarious publicity, it does not mean that we should overlook the opportunity to spend today supporting our small businesses. As a small law firm owner and operator myself, that services exclusively small businesses and start-ups, I have a unique understanding of and appreciation for the small business experience. I pride myself in patronizing small businesses, but it is not a challenge to do so year-round and the experience is so much more rewarding with limited if any additional cost.
Today I will start my day by grabbing coffee and breakfast at our favorite local bakery Fiore’s (best … breakfast sandwiches … ever, and comes with a free coffee – beat that Starbucks!) with my family where they know our order and my daughter’s name. We will stroll down the street with no specific intentions but to embrace the experience. I will likely pop in to Salmagundi, our local hat shop celebrating its 10th anniversary to peruse the merchandise with no pressure to buy, but the possibility of finding something incredibly special. The will give my daughter a magical feather to play with while I browse. I will be getting my hair done for an event this evening later right next door at Station 8 Salon and a manicure at JP Nails where they will always fit me in and do an excellent job. We will make our way to Boing Toy Store to buy a present for a birthday party this afternoon and the Kitchen Witch and OnCentre for some extra special Christmas gifts. (If you live near Jamaica Plain, MA check out #JPLocalFirst)
You can plan your own excursion using this map prepared by American Express (full disclosure I am not sure if they are required to accept Amex in order to be listed, but consider using cash so all funds go to the business as opposed to a percent for the credit card company). I may live in a big city but am from a small town that has even made it to their map!
SO .. How will you spend today?
Get up! Get out! Explore, experience and shop!
And don’t forget to #shopsmall year round!
#smallbizsaturday #shoplocal #smallbiz
