Toolkit Features Small Business Saturday Resources

November 24 — Small Business Saturday 2012 [1] — is just about two weeks away, and to help stores promote the celebration aimed at providing small businesses with more exposure during one of the biggest shopping weekends of the year, event organizers have created the Small Business Saturday Toolkit [2]. Inside are turn-key messages, logos, and banners to help spread the word, engage small businesses, and drive consumers out to shop indie.

Additional information and resources are available on shopsmall.com [3], including success stories from small business owners [4] who took advantage of last year’s Small Business Saturday.

Qualifying small businesses can also create free personalized ads that link to their website or their Facebook page. American Express, the founding sponsor of Small Business Saturday, will run these ads in a geo-targeted ad buy at no cost to the businesses. Ads are available while supplies of inventory last, and terms and conditions apply.

Businesses are encouraged to plan a special event at their business or create an exclusive offer for customers who visit on Small Business Saturday. Indie booksellers who signed up for Thanks for Shopping Indie [5], the first multi-publisher initiative for ABA member stores, which starts on Small Business Saturday, have a great opportunity to give back to their customers on a broad range of 2012 Indie Next List titles.

Last year, more than 100 million people came out to shop at independently owned small businesses on the day. Now, in its third year, Small Business Saturday will be even bigger.