Holiday jingles and Black Friday ads have bombarded our inboxes and TV screens the past few weeks, prepping us all for the biggest shopping weekend of the year.
The name “Black Friday” originated in Philadelphia, where it originally was used to describe the heavy and disruptive pedestrian and vehicle traffic that would occur on the day after Thanksgiving. Use of the term started before 1961 and began to see broader use outside Philadelphia around 1975.
The day after Thanksgiving, or Black Friday, has now turned into a week-long event for most companies.
Before you consider postponing turkey, stuffing and mashed potatoes to scope out Walmart’s deals at 6p.m. on Thanksgiving Day, why not savour family time and save shopping for Saturday?
Small Business Saturday, that is.
In 2010, American Express founded Small Business Saturday to help businesses with their most pressing need—getting more customers. That day happens every year on the Saturday after Thanksgiving and encourages people to shop at the small businesses that help write the story of America.
Shopping local is great for your community.
If you spend $100 at a local business, roughly $68 stays in your local economy. If you spend the same at a large business, only $43 stays in the local economy.
A few 2015 predictions:
- $14.5 billion is likely to be spent this Small Business Saturday, as there’s been a YOY increase of $200-$300 million in the last two years.
- Online shopping will reach an all-time high. Small businesses with successful online initiatives will be at a distinct advantage.
- Shoppers now care as much about the shopping experience as the gifts they get, according to PwC. This puts small business owners at an advantage.
Feel free to keep those sweat pants on all day Thursday, sleep in and #optoutside on Friday and save all your shopping energy for #SmallBizSat.
Where will you be shopping this long weekend?
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