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If you ask me, Black Friday sales get more ridiculous with each passing year. There’s certainly no way I will be leaving my family at the Thanksgiving dinner table at 6 p.m. to head to the mall for a new iPhone. One holiday shopping trend I can get behind, however, is Small Business Saturday.
On Saturday, Nov. 29, local small businesses partake in a movement that aims to encourage customers to shop at local businesses instead of larger stores (i.e. ones that try and lure you out in the middle of the night on a holiday). This year’s 5th Annual Small Business Saturday, presented by founding partner American Express, provides plenty of opportunities to shop local in the Metro Detroit area. Not only does shopping local give back to your community, it also allows a more personal touch when gift-giving for the holiday season. You’re way more likely to find something unique and personal at a mom and pop store than you are a chain store, now aren’t you?
Pure Detroit is a local Small Business Saturday frontrunner, and the company participated last year along with 17 other local shops. This year, that number has jumped to 25, but Pure Detroit is still sticking with the same Small Business Saturday model.
By using a Small Business Passport (which you can conveniently pick up at any Pure Detroit shop, as well as the Guardian Building, Fisher Building and GM Renaissance Center), you’ll receive discounts at participating retailers and a stamp in your passport book. The passport book is good through January 31, 2015, and typical discounts include 10 to 25 percent off your purchase.
A few of this year’s participating establishments include City Bird, Run Detroit, Stella Good Coffee, Hugh and the Detroit Athletic Co.
DXF, or the Detroit Experience Factory, is hosting its 11th Annual Shop Detroit event from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. During that time, shoppers can take advantage of discounts at local retailers. While you shuffle from one shop to the next, be sure to utilize the free shuttles that will be offered to several shopping destinations throughout the downtown area.
Downtown Rochester is an area you should be familiar with already, because I just imparted some wisdom on the topic last week. The area is also taking part in Small Business Saturday, complete with free carriage rides from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
There are plenty of local businesses participating, including Rizzo Jewelers, Rochester Bike Shop, Morley Candy Makers, Plain & Fancy Gift Shop and Moon River Soap. Even restaurants are getting in on the action, such as Tower Pizza, Bologna Via Cucina, Beyond Juice and Rochester Brunch House.
Downtown Royal Oak is always a great area in which to do some shopping, and Small Business Saturday is no different. Knock some items off of your Christmas checklist before December even rolls around!
Participating establishments include Black the Salon, Gayle’s Chocolates, Lift Designer Toys, Stella Boutique and Write Impressions. You’ll find something for everyone on your list, and possibly even a few discounted goodies for yourself.
Downtown Wyandotte will celebrate Small Business Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and the festivities include gift card giveaways at participating businesses. As the flyer on the website reminds us, “Small businesses are like snowflakes: each one is unique.”
Some such unique stores include Pottery Creations, Traffic Jam Boutique, Sweet Arrangements, A Serendipity Cakery and 3125 Studio. Click here and you can see the particular discounts each business is offering. (Purchase two dozen cake pops and get one dozen free? Okay!).
There will be complimentary gift wrap available, and downtown Wyandotte will be filled with strolling musicians, a canned food drive for the Salvation Army, free trolley rides, live reindeer and Santa’s Winter Wonderland.
Downtown Dearborn is offering you an incentive to get out and shop on Small Business Saturday. Spend at least $100 on merchandise in downtown Dearborn on Saturday and you will receive a $25 American Express gift card! All you have to do is shop until you drop at one of many small businesses on downtown Dearborn’s member list, which include Dearborn Music, Nichols Ski and Snowboard and English Gardens.
Make sure to save your receipts! Between Wednesday, Dec. 3 and Sunday, Dec. 7, bring your receipts from Small Business Saturday (only if they total $100 or more) to the Dearborn Area Chamber of Commerce and receive your gift card. See, shopping does pay off!
Downtown Northville has over 60 local shops and 23 different restaurants. That’s a lot of shopping and snack breaks! From 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., get items crossed off that holiday list at participating locations such as Gardenviews, The Urban Pearl Art Gallery, Salvaged and more.
Be sure to sneak a peek at this video starring the city of Detroit and all of its Small Business Saturday glory, courtesy of American Express. I hope that if you choose to sharpen your elbows and fight the crowds on Black Friday, that you’ll also go out and support local shops on Small Business Saturday as well. Even better, skip the mall on Friday and get in a good day’s worth of relaxation so you’re ready to go on Saturday: you’re going to need it!
