Small Business Saturday is a yearly event dedicated to supporting local, independently-owned businesses around the United States, and the City of Seattle’s Office of Economic Development (OED) supports Shop Small and Small Business Saturday to promote our local, independent businesses in Seattle. In 2016, OED worked with Shop Small to create the “Shop Uniquely Seattle” campaign. This campaign was created to highlight unique local products and business districts in Seattle. Small Business Saturday was founded by American Express in 2010 to aid local economies, and has grown into a ceremonial kick-off into the holiday season.
Small Business Saturday takes place on the first Saturday after Thanksgiving (November 25 this year), but the Shop Small campaign continues throughout the holiday shopping season. Most businesses begin their holiday shopping events on Small Business Saturday, but consumers are encouraged to continue to shop small year-round.
Shopping small this holiday season will helps support local jobs and entrepreneurs in the community, and allow tax dollars to stay local. Shopping and dining locally establishes individuality within neighborhoods. Going on its eighth year now, the campaign has celebrated the diversity of small businesses and addressed the importance of the jobs created. The Shop Uniquely Seattle campaign was created to highlight the small businesses that make Seattle unique. OED created several graphics that were posted around the city; on bus wraps, transit ads and social media posts.
The Shop Small activities are consistent throughout the entire holiday season so stay current via these resources!
- Follow @seattleeconomy on Facebook and Twitter
- Hashtags #ShopSmall, #SmallBizSat, #ShopSmallSeattle
- Check out the Bottom Line Blog
- Read up on the many events on the Stranger’s Event Calendar
- Follow Visit Seattle on Facebook and check out their holiday campaign
- Follow the Greater Seattle Business Association on Facebook and Twitter
There are a variety of events occurring this holiday season that will help you find that unique gift for a loved one; choose an event that you’ve never visited before, get acquainted with some different parts of the city, and choose to shop small this holiday season.
- South Park Duwamish Longhouse Native Holiday gift fair – Friday-Sunday, Nov. 24-26
- Ballard Gives Black Fridayand Holiday Fest – Friday-Saturday, Nov. 24-25
- Downtown Holiday Market– Friday, Nov. 24
- Downtown Holiday Tree Lighting and Macy’s Parade and Starlight – Friday, Nov. 24
- Magnusson Geek Craft Expo – Saturday-Sunday, Nov. 25-26
- Small Business Saturdayand Shop Small Guide – Saturday, Nov. 25
- Chinatown/ID Shop Small Shop Ethnic Popup Market – Saturday, Nov 25
- West Seattle Junction Small Business Saturday – Saturday, Nov. 25
- Pike Market Magic in the Market – Saturday, Nov. 25
- Seattle Center Urban Craft Uprising – Friday-Sunday, Dec. 1-3
- Beacon Popup Market – Saturday, Dec. 2
- Phinney Greenwood Winter Festival – Saturday, Dec. 2
- Magnolia Winterfest– Saturday, Dec. 2
- West Seattle Hometown Holidays– Saturday, Dec. 2
- Magnolia Native Art Mart – Sunday, Dec. 3
- South Lake Union Winter Market – Friday, Dec. 8
- Chinatown/ID Mahouto Market – Saturday-Sunday, Dec. 9-10
- Georgetown Art Attack – Saturday, Dec. 9
- Pioneer Square Howlidays and holiday garlands in the district all season long – Saturday, Dec. 9
Join us in supporting small businesses this holiday season.
Authored by Iqra Sharif