![[CREDIT: Rob Borkowski] From left, Robyn Golden, owner of R. Golden Designs jewelry, and designer of said jewelry, reviews a piece with Maureen Lilla. Golden's husband, Jeffrey, looks on.](https://e8dgfhu6pow.exactdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Shop-RI-Small-Buinsess-Saturday-9.jpeg?strip=all&lossy=1&ssl=1)
WARWICK, RI — Small Business Saturday Shop RI marks its seventh year Nov. 30 with a “pop-up mall,” bringing together more than 166 local businesses and vendors at Crowne Plaza Warwick.
This year vendor spaces at the event are sold out, including entrepreneurs with disabilities who participated in Rhode Island Developmental Disabilities Council (RIDDC)’s Self-Employment Business Development Series funded by the Department of Labor and Training’s (DLT) “Real Jobs RI ” Initiative.
At the RIDDC, Babin connects entrepreneurs with disabilities with business development classes and other resources funded by a grant from the State Department of Labor and Training to help them start and grow their businesses. Babin said Rhode Island is unique in that its Small Business Saturday event includes businesses owned by entrepreneurs with disabilities. That’s the key to RIDDC’s program – inclusion in the community, in
In 2023, the expo hosted 150 vendors from homewares to pet supplies, and 3,500 shoppers.
“It’s a very diverse group of vendors from all over the state,” said Sue Babin, RIDDC Special Projects Coordinator and chair of Shop RI. Vendors include sellers of food, gifts, books, travel, crafts, jewelry and sculpture.
“You can’t come out of there without something,” Babin said.
Another benefit of the event for small businesses is marketing and word of mouth, especially for the newly launched businesses and those that haven’t attended before. That’s attention that in many cases can’t be bought.
“The small businesses don’t have budgets to be able to do high-end marketing,” Babin said.
Hosted by the RIDDC, 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,” says Babin.
“We have rented out ever room of the first floor of the Crown Plaza,” she said. They’ve filled 250 tables with the owners and staff of Rhode Island small businesses. For many of the businesses, the event represents their biggest sales day of the year, a big help, especially following inflation costs that have yet to fully respond to the efforts of the Federal Reserve.
About 65 percent of the businesses are returning from last year, while 35 percent are attending the expo for the first time.
“It’s been really tough for people because of the economy and the higher costs,” Babin said, “Shoppers have been hesitant to spend money.” But, with Small Business Saturday, shoppers show up with a purpose – supporting small businesses with their holiday dollars.
Sponsors of the event include WarwickPost.com, The Rhode Show, WPRI-12, Equitable Advisors, Bristol County Savings Bank, and Rizzuto Eyelid & Facial Plastic Surgery.
Small Business Saturday, scheduled for 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. At Crowne Plaza Warwick, 801 Greenwich Ave, Warwick, RI 02886 Admission is free. SBS SHOP RI Entrepreneurs with Disabilities Selling their Products for Small Business Saturday SHOP RI on November 30
Author: Rob Borkowski
Rob has worked as reporter and editor for several publications, including The Kent County Daily Times and Coventry Courier, before working for Gatehouse in MA then moving home with Patch Media. Now he's publisher and editor of WarwickPost.com. Contact him at editor@warwickpost.com with tips, press releases, advertising inquiries, and concerns.
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