By: Jasmyne Perry, Main Street & CVB Intern, (830) 401-5000, jperry@seguintexas.gov
For the tenth year, the Saturday after Thanksgiving is being recognized as the American shopping holiday Small Business Saturday! How does one celebrate this holiday you may ask? Well that’s easy, just shop small, locally owned independent businesses!
As you know Seguin is a small town, and with small towns come small shops with big hearts. Seguin does not have an outlet mall or a giant shopping center but instead we have something better, small local shops owned by wonderful people. Some would call these “Mom and Pop” shops but no matter the name, the love is all the same.
For a little background, Small Business Saturday was created and supported by American Express. This holiday was created to bring the holiday season to small local shops and encourage shopping small. When American Express first launched the holiday, it was such a huge success that in 2011, the Senate unanimously passed a resolution in support of the day, and now officials in all 50 states participate.
According to American Express, “In 2013, more than 1,400 individuals and organizations signed up as Neighborhood Champions to rally and support their local communities with events and activities on Small Business Saturday — and that number continues to grow. By 2018, there were more than 7,500 Neighborhood Champions across all 50 states. They're not alone. Beginning in 2011, business associations, nonprofit trade groups, municipalities, and public officials started to unite, forming a Small Business Saturday Coalition to encourage everyone to Shop Small. And nearly 100 corporations lend their official support to the movement.”
Small towns and areas are coming together to support small business, and downtown Seguin is in with the hype! On Saturday, November 30th downtown will be covered in white and blue “shop small” swag. If you need to get your holiday shopping done or just love to shop, you will not want to miss this! Customers will be handed out swag bags filled with assorted goodies and COUPONS! These swag bags are on a first come, first serve basis from participating retailers so come grab them and shop while you can.
Each store loves and values their customers more than you can imagine and it’s holidays like this that celebrate both the shops and the customers. Please remember that shopping local and small is not for this day only but can be celebrated every day. Seguin is filled with small “mom and pops” from downtown to the outskirts. So, find your new favorite shops and shop local, shop Seguin!
