Lexington, KY - This week kicks off the holiday shopping season, and tens of millions of Americans will be out supporting their local communities by shopping at small businesses on the Saturday after Thanksgiving.
The day has been designated “Small Business Saturday” by the National Federation of Independent Businesses (NFIB).
According to the Small Business Consumer Insights Survey, released by the NFIB and American Express, of those familiar with Small Business Saturday, 67 percent are planning to “shop small” on November 24th (versus 44 percent who said they shopped at a small business on Small Business Saturday in 2011).
The survey reports 70 percent of consumers who shopped on Small Business Saturday in 2011 plan to do so again in 2012. Those 70 percent will spend more or the same amount this year, and will spend an average of $100. The top five places that consumers plan to shop on Small Business Saturday are restaurants (52 percent), bakeries (35 percent), clothing stores (34 percent), gift shops (31 percent) and book shops (29 percent).
The number one reason that consumers plan to support small businesses
on November 24th is they value the contributions small businesses make to
their community (76 percent), while the number two reason was better
customer service (59 percent).
50 percent of those planning to shop on Small Business Saturday plan to
“shop small” with a friend. 67 percent of consumers plan to eat out at small, independently-owned restaurant on Small Business Saturday this year.
Word-of-mouth is the top way that consumers find small, independently
owned shops and restaurants in their communities (79 percent).
The Small Business Saturday Consumer Insights Survey was conducted among a nationally representative sample of 1000 males and females 18 years of age or older.
NFIB is helping small businesses get the word out about their best Small Business Saturday deals. Small business owners can go to www.nfib.com/smallbizsat to submit information about their business and why shoppers should visit on November 24th. NFIB will promote these submissions on NFIB.com and in front of NFIB’s 150,000+ Facebook fans and 30,000+ Twitter followers.
For the third year in a row, American Express is offering Cardmembers the opportunity to get a $25 statement credit when they enroll their eligible American Express® Card and then use the card to spend $25 or more on a single in-store transaction at a qualifying small business location on Small Business Saturday. Enrollment is limited and opens on November 18th on www.shopsmall.com. Offer terms apply and are available at www.shopsmall.com/offerterms.
American Express also created a Shop Small® Map on www.ShopSmall.com. The interactive map allows consumers to find local American Express Card accepting small businesses where they can redeem the offer, while the new “Rally Your Community” feature is designed to connect consumers with small businesses in their area.
For the second year running, FedEx offered $1 million worth of American Express® Shop Small® Gift Cards, each worth $25, to consumers via Facebook (www.facebook.com/fedex). This year, 40,000 winners were selected at random from among all eligible entrants. Entrants were notified on or about November 9 as to whether they were a winner and also provided with a coupon to save $10 on a $20 FedEx shipment. Cards will be mailed to the winners for delivery by approximately November 21.
There are no consumer fees of any kind associated with the American Express® Shop Small® Gift Card. For additional information on the FedEx Gift Card giveaway, visit fedex.com/giftcard.