Move over, Black Friday. Step aside, Cyber Monday. Small Business Saturday is the most important shopping day on the Crystal Coast.

Small Business Saturday plays a crucial role in sustaining the economic vitality, local culture, and community well-being of the Crystal Coast, North Carolina, making it an essential event for the region's growth and prosperity.

What is Small Business Saturday?

Small Business Saturday is an annual event dedicated to supporting local businesses and encouraging consumers to shop small. But what makes it so special? Well, grab a cup of coffee from AB Coffee, and let us tell you all about it.

Small Business Saturday is a shopping holiday held annually in the United States, typically the Saturday after Thanksgiving. This event encourages consumers to shop at small, independently-owned stores, both online and in-person, to boost local economies, foster community connections, and celebrate the uniqueness and diversity of small businesses.

It serves as a reminder to prioritize shopping at smaller shops, cafes, boutiques, and local enterprises to help them thrive and compete with larger retailers during the holiday season.

Why is it so important to the Crystal Coast? Let's dive in!

When you shop at a small business, you're not just supporting an individual or a family, you're supporting an entire community. Small businesses employ local workers, pay local taxes, and often give back to the community in the form of charitable donations or volunteer work. By shopping small on Small Business Saturday, you're not just getting a unique and personalized shopping experience, you're also doing your part to support the place you call home. For us, it is the Crystal Coast.

Small businesses are often founded by individuals or small groups of people with a passion for what they do. This means that they're able to offer a level of personalized service and a unique selection of products that you won't find at your typical chain store. Whether you're shopping for locally-made crafts, homemade baked goods, or one-of-a-kind jewelry, you're sure to find something special on Small Business Saturday.

Did you know that for every $100 spent at a small business, $68 stays in the local economy? This money is spent on things like local suppliers, vendors, and service providers. It helps to create a ripple effect of economic growth throughout the community. By shopping small on Small Business Saturday, you're not just supporting the individual business you're buying from. You're helping to boost the local economy as a whole.

Small businesses often have more control over their supply chain. They are able to source materials and products in a more sustainable and eco-friendly way. They're also less likely to contribute to the kind of mass consumerism that pervades larger chain stores. By shopping small on Small Business Saturday, you're not just getting a unique and sustainable product. You're also doing your part to reduce waste and promote ethical consumerism.

Let's be real, shopping is always more fun when it's done in a unique and personalized setting. Small Business Saturday is the perfect opportunity to get out and explore your local community, discover new businesses and products, and connect with the people working behind the scenes. It's a chance to make new memories and create new traditions, all while supporting the things you care about.

So there you have it, folks. Small Business Saturday is more than just a marketing gimmick. It's a movement that's helping to create a more sustainable, vibrant, and connected local community. So this year, skip the long lines and impersonal shopping experiences and opt for a more meaningful and personal experience by shopping small. We guarantee it will be the best day of your shopping year.