Twelve years ago, American Express founded Small Business Saturday to support small businesses during the busiest consumer spending period of the year. Due to its success, the Small Business Administration (SBA) has cosponsored it since 2011, with other organizations sharing their support, raising awareness, and contributing to this initiative by hosting events, sharing resources, and more for small businesses.
Take advantage of free Small Business Saturday resources designed by American Express, the SBA, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to help small businesses reach customers this holiday season and beyond.
Free Small Business Saturday Webinar
Get ready for the holiday season with the SBA’s free webinar, 20 Ideas for Small Business Saturday and the Holiday Season.
This session will cover actionable ideas tailored for retailers, service providers, and restaurants to drive traffic and boost sales. Small businesses will gain strategies to implement immediately, tips for a successful Small Business Saturday on Nov. 30, and creative ways to maximize profits through the end of the year.
Learn more and register here.
Social Media Assets
Leveraging social media is an easy, free way for small businesses to grow their customer base, maintain relationships, and build a strong brand identity within their community.
No matter what the industry, small businesses can use these complimentary assets to invite customers to Shop Small with you this holiday season.
Pro tip: Post content between 9 a.m. and noon local time from Tuesday to Thursday before Small Business Saturday. Connecting with your community in real-time is more important than ever. From updates to community check-ins to product highlights, ensure you prioritize your posts during peak hours.
Shop Small Map
Another Small Business Saturday resource to leverage is the American Express Shop Small Map, a filtered experience within American Express Maps that only displays U.S. businesses that meet the following eligibility criteria:
- Must be an American Express Card-accepting business.
- Must not be part of a franchise brand that has more than 250 stores.
- Additionally, if a franchise brand has more than 25 corporate-owned stores, then the entire brand is excluded.
Additional criteria and map information can be found here.
Free Signs and Supplies
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation has partnered with American Express to support small businesses and offers complimentary “Shop Small” stickers. Order your complimentary stickers here by Nov. 20, 2024, and the stickers will be shipped directly to your business.
American Express also offers small businesses other Small Business Saturday resources, including free promotional materials to help attract and engage customers. These materials include signs, posters, window decals, and other branded items to boost visibility and celebrate local shopping. They also have other digital assets, such as email headers and customizable graphics, that businesses can use to promote their participation in Small Business Saturday marketing.