If you are an avid shopper (and even if you are not), you've probably heard of "Black Friday" and "Cyber Monday." But what about "Small Business Saturday"?
"Small Business Saturday" was created by American Express in 2010 in response to small business owners' most pressing need: getting more customers," says Tricia Woodland, marketing and events manager for the Uptown Shelby Association. It is set for the Saturday following Thanksgiving, which this year will fall on Nov. 24, 2018.
"Uptown Shelby is a great place to spend Small Business Saturday," says Woodland. "We hope everyone will come and enjoy shopping in Shelby's independent shops and boutiques, and then relaxing over great food at some of our local restaurants."
The Uptown Shelby Association will sponsor a tent at the corner of Lafayette and Warren streets from 10 a.m. -
2 p.m. on Small Business Saturday.
"We encourage local residents to come by our tent, get some free SWAG and then enjoy shopping in Uptown Shelby," says Woodland. "This is the day our businesses celebrate being small and personal by offering special experiences to their customers."
In 2010 small businesses were facing tough times due to the economic recession. American Express launched Small Business Saturday to encourage people to bring more holiday shopping to small businesses. The next year, in 2011, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed a resolution in support of the day, and officials in all 50 states participate. By 2017, there were more than 7,200 participants across the United States.
This will be the seventh year that Small Business Saturday has been a part of the holiday shopping season in Cleveland County, and Woodland hopes it will be the most successful yet.
"This is a great opportunity for area residents to get their holiday shopping done early while supporting our local economy," she says. "It's a win-win for everyone."
For more information about the Uptown Shelby Association, visit the organization's website at
www.UptownShelby.com or search for "Uptown Shelby Association" on Facebook.

By April Hoyle Shauf