Small Biz Saturday for Holiday Shoppers Nov. 25

Small Business Saturday Shop RI marks its seventh year Nov. 26 with a “pop-up mall,” bringing together more than 150 local businesses and vendors at Crowne Plaza Warwick for holiday shoppers.

Hosted by the Rhode Island Developmental Disabilities Council, U.S. Small Business Administration, Veterans Business Outreach Center, and Center for Women and Enterprise, the event is “a great opportunity to support local small businesses and get some holiday shopping done,” said Sue Babin, RIDDC Special Projects Coordinator and chair of Shop RI.

The number of RIDDC-supported business owners at Small Business Saturday has grown from 20 in 2019 to more than 30 this year.

“It’s a representation of the diversity of small businesses in our state that we have so many entrepreneurs with disabilities,” Babin explained. “We created this event to showcase all of our small business owners, and to show the general public that people with disabilities can also be successful.”

“It’s a great platform for businesses to get exposure,” Babin explained.

Small Business Saturday is a shopping holiday held each year on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. American Express launched the campaign in 2010 to rally support and dollars for small business owners in the holiday shopping rush. The day has been steadily increasing in popularity as an alternative to the chaos of Black Friday and Cyber Monday, which typically support major retail companies.

Small Business Saturday’s “Shop Small” message encourages consumers to engage in their local communities by supporting the small business economy. This is promoted by all types of local businesses — restaurants, cafes, spas, retail shops, entrepreneurs, community artists, etc. — making it an exciting day for all who participate.

For updates and more information on Small Business Saturday Shop RI, visit their Facebook page.