Small business gets day in the sun Saturday
Everything from local jewelry stores to fitness clubs to co-working spaces are offering a deal on Small Business Saturday, organized for the second straight year by the Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Connecticut.
This Saturday, the day after the official holiday-season buying spree kicks off on Black Friday, dozens of local shops will be offering special deals. Some places will offer discounts, while others are giving away hot drinks and other items.
The idea took off in 2010 when American Express launched the first celebration of small business shopping between the traditional buying kickoff and Cyber Monday, when online retailers get in on the act.
"Initiatives like Small Business Saturday are critical to supporting our region's small business community," Tony Sheridan, president and chief executive of the local chamber, said in a statement. "When small businesses do well, everybody succeeds."
Sheridan said every local resident should go out and buy at least one present at a local business on Saturday.
"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," he said.
To lure shoppers, many small enterprises hold one-day-only sales, plan giveaways and advertise special deals.
Toolkits promoting the event were offered by the chamber to both member and nonmember businesses. The kit included fliers, posters, coupons and signage as well as proposed Facebook and Twitter messages.
"Throughout early November, chamber staff visited central business districts throughout eastern Connecticut to personally visit small businesses and drop off copies of the toolkit, free of charge," according to a news release.
New London Main Street personnel helped out in downtown New London.
A page on the chamber website collected all of the information on businesses offering Small Business Saturday deals, then converted it to print and digital newsletters, social media sites and email blasts.
The work paid off, as at least 56 businesses got involved in the promotion this year compared with only 35 the year before. Entertainment and refreshments are offered at some establishments, and participants can be found at www.ChamberECT.com or on social media using the hashtag #SmallBizSat.
In addition, the Greater Norwich Area Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring a holiday bazaar from 8:30 a.m. to noon Saturday at the Holiday Inn Norwich. The event will feature dozens of crafters and vendors, along with photos with Santa from 10 to 11:45 a.m.
Businesses participating
East Lyme
Advantage Personal Training, www.AdvantagePersonalTraining.com
Black Point Jewelers, www.BlackPointJewelers.com
Thistle Beads, www.ThistleBeads.com
Groton
CURE Innovation Commons, www.CureCommons.org
Groton Inn & Suites, www.GrotonInn.com
Red Door Salon & Spa, (860) 446-2500
Jewett City
W2 Bookkeeping Services, www.W2Bookkeeping.com
Montville
The Gateway Museum at Nature's Art Village, www.NaturesArtVillage.com
The PAST Antiques at Nature's Art Village, www.NaturesArtVillage.com
The Shops at Nature's Art Village, www.NaturesArtVillage.com
Mystic
A Creative Focus Photography, www.ACreativeFocusPhotography.com
Advantage Personal Training, www.AdvantagePersonalTraining.com
A Taste of New England, www.ATasteOfNewEngland.com
Becca Rose Natural Body Care, www.BeccaRose.net
Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center, www.DPNC.org
Fun and Easy Clothing & Accessories, www.FunAndEasyClothing.com
Garden Specialties, www.Garden-Specialties.com
N.L. Shaw & Company, www.NLShaw.com
The Rose, (860) 460-4005
Seaport Real Estate Group, www.SeaportRE.com
Silver Papillon, www.SilverPapillon.com
Sunglass Paradise
Tidal River Clothing Company, www.Shop.TidalRiverClothing.com
The Velvet Swan, (860) 536-3842
New Britain
DribbleBabies, www.DribbleBabies.com
New London
Berry's Ice Cream and Candy Bar, www.facebook.com/BerrysIceCreamandCandyBar
Custom House Maritime Museum – New London Maritime Society, www.NLMaritimeSociety.org
The Eyeglass Lass, www.TheEyeglassLass.com
Flavours of Life – The Fair Trade Store, www.facebook.com/flavoursoflife
Hive Skate Shop
Homeward Bound Treasures, (860) 444-8800
Hygienic Art Galleries, www.Hygienic.org
Northern Light Gems, www.NLGems.com
Sarge's Comics and Games, www.SargesComics.com
Studio 33 Art and Frame Gallery, www.Studio33Gallery.Wordpress.com
The Telegraph, www.TelegraphNL.com
Norwich
The Spa at Norwich Inn
Old Lyme
The Bowerbird, www.TheBowerbird.com
Old Saybrook
TGezo Business Consulting, (845) 453-9071
Vintage Home Décor, www.VintageHomeDecorStore.com
Stonington
Amapola's Tea & More, www.TeaSpiceBlends.com
Barraza, www.BarrazaStyle.com
Black Orchid Jewelers, www.BlackOrchidJewelers.com
Horses Healing Humans, www.HorsesHealingHumansCT.org
Hungry Palette, (860) 535-2021
LaGrua's, (860) 535-1030
Milagro Cafe, www.MilagroCafeCT.com
Stonington COMO Thrift Shop, www.SNHC.com
Yali, www.YaliStonington.com
Zia's, www.ZiasOfStonington.com
Waterford
EZ-Occasions Event Design & Rentals, www.EZ-Occasions.com
Utopia Salon, www.TotalUtopiaSalon.com
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