Black Friday may be getting all the attention lately, but for many retailers, it’s Small Business Saturday that offers them a real chance to shine.
The event - slated for Nov. 26, two days after Thanksgiving, and the day after the traditional deal frenzy that kicks of the holiday shopping season - gives consumers a reason to spend at local merchants.
And, the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) wants to help small businesses get the word out about the deals they have planned for the day.
The group has launched a Small Business Saturday web portal to give businesses a free way to advertise deals and to help consumers find those deals quickly and easily.
"Because we value small business owners, NFIB wants to lend a hand and put your business front and center and let consumers know about local deals,” says Mark Garzone, senior v.p. of marketing for NFIB. “We are excited about what this opportunity can do for small businesses and we hope many more will take advantage of our free advertising and resources."
Businesses can submit their own deals and promote them for free on NFIB's site, while shoppers can search by state to find the best deals in their area and fuel their local economy. In addition to its website, NFIB also will publicize deals to more than 115,000 Facebook fans and more than 13,000 Twitter followers.
Some of the deals already on the site include: 10% off at the country's only chocolate restaurant, 20% off soy candles; and a 70% discount on seeds to grow your own vegetables.
NFIB also is sharing tips and advice from small business experts on how to boost holiday sales.
