Business Express: Eastern CT's Small Business Community Gets Free Promotion for #SmallBizSat

For the third consecutive year, the Chamber of Commerce of Eastern CT is leading the promotion of Small Business Saturday in eastern CT, which occurs on November 25, 2017.

What is Small Business Saturday?

Small Business Saturday is an annual one-day celebration of the country’s small business communities. It was first developed by American Express in 2010 to bring attention to independent retailers on the Saturday between Black Friday and Cyber Monday, who are too often unable to compete with the discounts offered by “big-box” stores or online retailers that weekend. Many small businesses nationwide offer one-day-only discounts, special offers, and giveaways to help bring guests into their places of business.

How is the Chamber helping? 

To help raise awareness of Small Business Saturday in eastern CT, and to encourage shoppers to Shop Local, the Chamber of Commerce of Eastern CT has taken a lead role in promoting Small Business Saturday to residents and the local business community.
 
The Chamber created a free comprehensive toolkit that small business owners and operators could use to promote their participation in Small Business Saturday. The toolkit, created in-house by Chamber of Commerce of Eastern CT staff, consists of flyers, posters, distributable coupons, and signage that could be easily customized by each business to announce their Small Business Saturday discounts to their guests. Additionally, each toolkit contains pre-written social media marketing messages that small business owners can easily share on Facebook and Twitter to promote their participation in Small Business Saturday and to advertise their discounts.

How can small businesses get involved? 

The Chamber of Commerce of Eastern CT is making these toolkits available to eastern CT’s entire small business community, regardless of membership with the Chamber. The toolkits are hosted on the Chamber’s website at ChamberECT.com/sbs, with a download link shared through the Chamber’s marketing publications, social media, and public newsletters. Throughout early November, Chamber staff visited central business districts throughout eastern CT to personally visit small businesses and drop off copies of the toolkit, free of charge.
 
If offering discounts for Small Business Saturday, business owners were encouraged to inform the Chamber of their special offers. The Chamber will share any and all collected discounts through print and digital newsletters, on social media, and in an email blast to Chamber members the week of Small Business Saturday.
 
Offers collected in 2016 include discounted admission to local attractions; buy one, get one free offers; percentages off goods and services; and goodies and giveaways for shoppers. Some businesses offered refreshments and live entertainment for guests who came to their stores on Small Business Saturday.

Partners support our small business community 

For 2017, Dime Bank has partnered with the Chamber for an additional opportunity for giveaways. On November 25, residents are encouraged to share a photo of themselves shopping or dining at a small business on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter, accompanied with the hashtags “#ShopSmallCT” and “#ChamberECT.” Three lucky winners will receive a $100 Visa gift card to continue their small business support, courtesy of Dime Bank, Frontier, and Miranda Creative. Posts must have been posted on November 24, 25, or 26 to qualify for drawing.

Shop Small on #SmallBizSat

 “Initiatives like Small Business Saturday are critical to supporting our region’s small business community,” said Tony Sheridan, President & CEO of the Chamber of Commerce of Eastern CT. “When small businesses do well, everybody succeeds. The dollars spent with small businesses remain local in our communities and provide good jobs for our residents, and provide necessary funding for our fire and police departments, parks, and municipal resources. We encourage all residents and visitors to support at least one small business this Small Business Saturday on November 25.”
 
Visit www.ChamberECT.com to find a list of businesses and discounts offered for Small Business Saturday 2017. When using social media, use #SmallBizSat to find and share offers from small businesses participating in the celebration on November 25.


Above: small businesess in eastern CT receive their free #SmallBizSat toolkits