Local small businesses can expect to see a spike in sales this weekend thanks to what is now known as Small Business Saturday, a day when small businesses offer holiday shopping specials.
American Express spearheaded the shopping day to encourage Black Friday and Cyber Monday bargain hunters to remember mom and pop shops for their holiday spending.
“It’s brought more focus to those sole proprietors, those individually owned businesses that really help us to sustain our economy,” said Luanne Hulsizer, executive director of Third Avenue Village Association. “We’ve had members who don’t even use the American Express card. Maybe [Amex] has a little skin in the game because they want you to use your American Express card, but they have not limited the day to proprietors who only take American Express. I think the focus they have brought to small retailers should be commended.”
“Usually on Small Business Saturday I do very well,” said Janet Goff, owner of My Cup of Tea in Chula Vista. She has registered her company with AmEx. “It’s about small business. People talk about Small Business Saturday even when they talk about American Express. Every person who comes in here Saturday is not going to be here because of American Express.”
“I do think it’s a nice day and I do think it’s a nice surge,” said Goff. “It would have been nice if [the city of Chula Vista] would have said they’d waive all parking fees for the day. That would have really brought more people to Third Avenue.”
“Small business is the backbone to our local economy,” said Jacqueline Reynoso, president and CEO of the National City Chamber of Commerce. “By supporting local small businesses they’re supporting fiscal stability. A lot of small businesses don’t have the marketing to promote Black Friday specials unless folks are out and about or they have retail locations at the mall. Small Business Saturday is a way for them to do that as well.”
