Small Business Saturday is a day for dedicating a portion of holiday shopping to local, independently-owned small businesses. 

American Express, the founding sponsor of Small Business Saturday, created the national program in 2010 in response to small business owners’ most pressing need: more demand for their products and services. The second annual event will build on last year’s inaugural program that drove millions of dollars to neighborhood merchants.

First there was Black Friday, now there is Small Business Saturday. Your participation in this initiative will help propel our locally-owned businesses into the holiday season; a critical piece to their success and our nation’s job growth. 

Small businesses have generated 64 percent of net new jobs over the past fifteen years and employ just over half of all private sector employees. “Last year, we saw a 28 percent rise in sales volumes for our small business merchants versus the same day in 2009,” said Mary Ann Fitzmaurice Reilly, senior vice president, American Express OPEN.

If you’re a small business and would like to particpate in this event, visit facebook.com/SmallBusinessSaturday for information on free tools to promote your business. Resources include in-store signage, e-marketing materials, free facebook ads, and more. 

Check out some of the local, independently-owned businesses in your neighborhood at onlyinseattle.org. Like us on facebook.com/onlyinseattle and follow us at twitter.com/onlyseattlegems.