BBB Tip: How to support Small Business Saturday

Milwaukee, Wis. – After hitting the big Black Friday sales at major retailers, BBB encourages consumers to check out the small, local, and independent businesses participating in Small Business Saturday (SBS). This day celebrates small businesses and all they do for their communities.

Created in 2010 by American Express, Small Business Saturday—the day after Black Friday—is a perfect time to stop in or shop online to support your local independent business retailers.

Shopping locally, whether in person or online, benefits your local economy and has a positive impact on your community at large. You can often find unique and personalized gifts that have the personal touch of a local business.

BBB offers the following tips to “Shop Small” on Small Business Saturday:

• Get involved. Many communities host special events to celebrate and support the businesses that make your hometown unique. Find out what local events are happening in your area on the Small Business Saturday website or visit your local chamber of commerce or merchants’ association.
• Sign up for email alerts. Save a few dollars on your holiday budget by signing up for Small Business Saturday email specials offered by the merchants in your area. Remember, you’ll probably get additional deals throughout the year, not just during the holidays.
• Research the shops nearest to you. Read reviews online, such as those on BBB.org (where you can also identify which ones are trusted, BBB Accredited Businesses). Learn what shops are officially participating in the American Express Small Business Saturday by going to ShopSmall.org.
• Connect with businesses on social media. Many small businesses will advertise their sales via social media. You can use #ShopSmall to search for information and share activities.
• Invite your friends and family. Turn this shopping event into a “friends and family” extravaganza! Visit your favorite local stores or explore a new one. Take time to get to know the business owners and local community officials, and get a head start on the holidays while enjoying time with loved ones.
• Don’t just shop small; eat small! Many people think shopping at local retail stores is the only way to participate. However, small, independently owned restaurants, bakeries, and coffee shops would love to invite new customers while they’re out and about. Find restaurants near you.
• Share your experience. Take a selfie at your favorite small business. Share it on social media to tell the world you’re a big fan of small businesses. Leave a review on BBB.org. Remember, these shops are open all year as well!
• Look for the BBB Seal. It’s the Sign of a Better Business. Shop confidently on Small Business Saturday by choosing businesses prioritizing trust and ethics in the marketplace. Shop with confidence and peace of mind this holiday season, avoid scams, and make smart purchasing decisions.

How to find local businesses online

Many local businesses might exist only online. How do you find them?

• Use local search filters
  • On BBB.org, you can search your local area by filling in the “near” box on our search form. See businesses near you.
  • In search engines like Google or Bing, you can enter “[business type] near me” and get results near you.
  • On apps like Facebook Marketplace and Etsy (a BBB Accredited Business), you can use a filter for results in a radius of miles of your home.
• Explore local business locations and directories
  • Consider curbside pickup or delivery options to support local even when shopping online at large retail merchants, like The Home Depot (a BBB Accredited Business).
  • Your chamber of commerce may have a directory of local businesses and their websites

For more information

Visit the BBB holiday HQ.

See BBB’s online shopping HQ for more resources.

View the online version

For more information or further inquiries, contact the Wisconsin BBB at www.bbb.org/wisconsin, 414-847-6000 or 1-800-273-1002. Consumers also can find more information about how to protect themselves from scams by following the Wisconsin BBB on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

ABOUT BBB: The Better Business Bureau has empowered people to find businesses, brands, and charities they can trust for over 110 years. In 2023, people turned to BBB more than 218 million times for BBB Business Profiles on 5.3 million businesses, and 80,000 times for BBB charity reports on about 12,000 charities, for free at BBB.org. The International Association of Better Business Bureaus is the umbrella organization for the local, independent BBBs in the United States and Canada.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.