MITCHELL, SD (Mitchell Now) — Small Business Saturday arrives this weekend, offering shoppers an opportunity to support locally owned stores, restaurants and service providers during one of the busiest retail periods of the year. The national event, held the Saturday after Thanksgiving, is designed to boost small businesses as Black Friday and Cyber Monday draw customers toward major retailers and online giants.

Founded in 2010 by American Express and co-sponsored by the U.S. Small Business Administration, Small Business Saturday has grown into an international initiative. Since its launch, an estimated $201 billion has been spent at small businesses nationwide during the annual event.

Local businesses are encouraged to prepare for the holiday shopping weekend by promoting their participation through social media, email marketing and community outreach. American Express also provides free promotional materials and the Shop Small® logo at https://www.americanexpress.com/us/merchant/shop-small/materials.html.

Businesses can increase customer engagement by offering exclusive Small Business Saturday deals, creating themed product bundles and enhancing their storefronts with festive décor. Organizers also recommend preparing for larger crowds by scheduling additional staff and ensuring stores are clean, welcoming and well-stocked.

Small Business Saturday continues to play a key role in helping independent businesses strengthen their presence in local communities while kicking off the holiday shopping season.