It’s become an annual tradition for many shoppers in DTLB. The first Saturday after the Thanksgiving Holiday is now a national push to support buying from small businesses similar to Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
The program was created about 10 years ago by American Express as a way to encourage shopping during the Great Recession. This year, DLBA will again kick off the holiday shopping season on Saturday, November 27, targeting local and citywide customers through several promotions.
“It might not be front of mind for shoppers, but every dollar someone spends on clothing from our local merchants, coffee and pastry from the neighborhood café, or gifts at a local designer’s shop, makes a big difference as it’s reinvested again and again into the local economy. The impact of those dollars could be even more meaningful this year as businesses work to recover from the pandemic,” said DLBA COO Broc Coward. “We need to continue supporting recovery efforts for our local owners and operators, leveraging programs that raise awareness and drive traffic to businesses which are the backbone of any core urban center.”
American Express estimates that two-thirds of every dollar spent at small businesses in the U.S. stays in the local community. Additionally, the company found that every dollar spent at small businesses creates an additional 50 cents in local business activity as a result of employee spending and businesses purchasing local goods and services.
To support local efforts, DLBA is again featuring a new holiday shopping and dining guide (including a location map), including Small Shop Saturday, that lists various specials and discounts from participating merchants around Downtown. The organization also is working with the City of Long Beach to provide free on-street metered parking on Shop Small Saturday and that’s in addition to the usual two-hour free parking in CityPlace lots.
In addition, DLBA plans to launch a Downtown Passport Marketing program encouraging exploration of Downtown’s retail corridors. Customers can collect stamps on a special card when they make a purchase from participating businesses and enter to win valuable local gift cards. After completing the passport, two people will be selected to win $500 each in gift cards to spend on local businesses. The promotion will include Shop Small Saturday and run through the holidays.
Shop Small Saturday Deals in DTLB
Here’s a sampling of some of the Shop Small Saturday deals in DTLB:
- 6th and Detroit – 20% off
- Ash Bay Soap – 4 bars of soap for $20; Crambe soaps 2 for $10
- District Wine – Half off wine tasting and 15% off gift baskets
- Fresh Kabobs – Free drink with any platter purchase
- Georges Greek Café – Free dip with $20 purchase, mention “Shop Small”
- MADE by Millworks – Large sidewalk pop-up
- Maral Designs – 10% off entire store; 20% off sale merchandise
- Pacific Island Art Museum – 50% off Saturday and Sunday
- The Raven and the Wolves – 25% off all merchandise
- Wheel Fun Rentals – Purchase an Annual Pass, get 50% off for an entire year
Check the DLBA website, Shop DTLB for the latest local business deals.