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Big Day for Shop Small Saturday

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The growing phenomena and increasing support for Small Business Saturday — or Shop Small Saturday — is heartening to many merchants in central business districts of towns small and large alike, especially in light of the huge number of small business enterprises who rely on the holiday season to survive the rest of the year. 

The Shop Small movement has garnered solid momentum in recent years and is every bit as important to small business enterprises as Black Friday has become to the big box stores from coast to coast. Tomorrow is the big day for small businesses across the nation and the crew at St. Joseph Today has been working hard for several months now to get ready for the big event by gathering information to help share the word to customers and potential customers all over Michigan's Great Southwest. 

Tomorrow, Saturday, November 26th, St. Joe Today staff, supporters and members are excited to celebrate Small Business Saturday all over Southwest Michigan. The crew has assembled a large and growing list of all kinds of great events and promotions happening tomorrow to celebrate this Small Business Saturday.

You are encouraged to support the movement  by taking the time to shop small. Remember, when you spend $100 locally, $68 of that money will stay in town supporting the local economy.
 
Here is the most recent list of Small Business Saturday promotions and events as assembled by the team at St. Joseph Today and their Welcome Center, with more arriving all the time:

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  • Biggby Coffee: Free beverage add on: espresso shot or flavor!
  • Blue Moon Vintage Market: Open 10am-5pm and they're participating in the Three Oaks Snowflake Stroll that Eve from 5-8pm! They will have a bonfire and marshmallows provided by Mother Wilma's Marshmallow Factory.
  • Candlestick Maker: 20% off all decorative lamps; serving hot mulled cider – made from hand mixed mulling spices!
  • Chartreuse (Art Co-Op): Enter to win a $25 or $50 gift certificate!
  • The Christmas Tree: Spend $50 receive a $10 gift certificate, Spend $75 receive a $15 gift certificate, Spend $100 receive a $20 gift certificate. Plus enjoy sampling in "The Room of Good Things to Eat."
  • DK Boutique: 30% off everything – excluding Pandora, Alex & Ani and Sale Items (Nov. 25-27). Spend $125 on Pandora and receive a Limited Edition Snowflake Bangle; Plus this is the release of their Limited Edition Black Friday Charm (Nov. 25-27). 20% off your Alex & Ani purchase; This is also the release of their Limited Edition Black Friday Snowflake Bangle (Nov. 25-28).
  • Elephants Breath Antiques: 10-30% off on selected items.
  • FuzzyButz Pet Bakery: 15% off everything in the store.
  • G&M Variety: Enjoy 10% off on all sales.
  • Gallery on the Alley: Refreshments and 15% off store-wide.
  • Grins of St. Joe: Additional Cash Back – $5 for purchases of $50-$99 and $10 for purchases of $100+.
  • Heritage Museum & Cultural Center: Spend $20+ and receive a free one year family membership (offer valid 11/26-12/23). Receive 10% off North Pier LEGO Lighthouse Kit.
  • Kilwins: Enjoy free samples and enter to win a Kilwins Chocolate Gift Basket (Nov. 25 & 26). Also, enjoy a Kilwins hand-made waffle cone and Peppermint Ice Cream (with red and green peppermint pieces-also sold year round). Check out the made-in-store decorated Christmas specialty items they have to offer.
  • Krasl Art Center: Artist made gifts available in the Krasl Gift Shop!
  • Lana's Boutique: Progressive Sale – the more you buy the more you save! On Saturday enjoy free Mimosas while shopping, free wrapping and exclusive in-store specials!
  • Landis Clothing: Buy any sport coat and get a dress slack free!
  • Lazy Ballerina Winery: Open Noon-6pm; Two free tastes of wine; Local Vintage Pop-Up Market featuring The Turquoise Top Hat from 1-4pm.
  • Lazy Daisy: Progressive Sale – the more you buy the more you save!
  • Mimi's Cupcakes: 10% off purchases of 6 or more cupcakes.
  • North Pier Brewing: .50 cents off pints all day; enter to win a $25 North Pier gift certificate!
  • Olive Cart: A free 8.5oz bottle of olive oil or balsamic of our choice with any $75.00 or more purchase.
  • Purely Michigan: Greenbush (craft brew) tastings 1:00-3:00pm; 12 Corners (wine) tastings from 6:00-8:00pm; also giving away one free Stromy Kromer hat every weekend from November 26 through December 24.
  • Renaissance Athletic Club: No joining fee; purchase a smoothie in the cafe get one half off!
  • reVive Spa: 15-25% off retail products; buy 10 sessions of tanning, float or spa and get 3 free; $5 off mystic tans.
  • Silver Beach Carousel: The Brass Ring Gift Shop is offering a special price ($9.95) on the NOEL book!
  • St. Joseph Today: Enter to win one of four $25 St. Joseph Today Gift Certificates on Small Business Saturday to spend at our member shops and restaurants! One entry per person. Must be 18 or older. Plus enjoy free Zoup! and Bistro on the Boulevard samples from 11am-2pm!
  • Three Pillars Music: 15% off all Guitars and Amplifiers. $2 off Records and CDs priced $5 or more. Refreshments and munchies.
  • Waterfront Framing & Fine Art: 15% off art, sculptures and photo frames (through the holiday season).
  • Wanderlust Outfitters: Up to 30% off these brands: CamelBak, Osprey, Marmot, ENO, Native, MSR, Therarest, Platypus, E-Case, Seal Line, Pack Towl, SUP on the Fly, Point 6, Prana, NeMo, Columbia, Kuhl, Kavu, JetBoil, Craghoppers, The North Face, Fjall Raven, and Black Diamond.
  • Wolf's Marine: Pet Pics with Santa from Noon-3pm!
  • Yoga Life: Stay healthy and stress free during the holiday season and even into the new year with 5 classes for $50! Gift Cards can be purchased in the studio. These special passes make great gift for yourself or someone else! Sale starts 11/26/16 and ends 12/10/16. No limit per person on pass purchases. All class passes expire 6-months after purchase date. No extensions on expiration date. Purchase in studio or online.
  • Zoup!: Free medium beverages.

The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) encourages those who have been hitting the malls and major shopping centers for big box stores to take time out for local merchants as well. 

Amanda Fisher is Assistant State Director for the NFIB in Michigan. She says, “Not only is the shopping experience on small business Saturday guaranteed to be more civilized than Black Friday, but it allows shoppers to support the very community that provides a majority of the jobs in our state.” She adds,  “We encourage everyone to take the time to shop small this Saturday; it’s a great way to spend the post-holiday weekend amongst your friends and neighbors.”

NFIB is a partner again this year with American Express in the national campaign to promote Small Business Saturday, the day after Black Friday and the traditional start of the holiday shopping season. For many small businesses, the four weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas are a crucial period that could determine whether they are profitable for the year.

NFIB and American Express have collaborated on Small Business Saturday since 2010. Last year, according to the post-holiday survey released by NFIB and American Express, 95 million Americans reported shopping at small businesses on Small Business Saturday, and they spent more than $16-billion, an increase of 14-percent from the previous year.

Fisher says, “Small Business Saturday is a very important day to recognize small business owners. Our hope is that more people will not only participate on Saturday but keep small businesses in mind throughout the year.”  She concludes, “Those operating on Main Street are often staples of their communities that sponsor everything from little league teams to school fundraisers; Saturday is a wonderful opportunity to thank them for their continued support.”

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