Maryville, Tenn. – The Blount Partnership announced that a dozen Blount County small businesses elected to participate in the fifth annual Small Business Saturday on November 29 to support independent businesses. Founded by in American Express in 2010, Small Business Saturday® is a day to celebrate the small businesses that help support your neighborhood and is held every year on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Now in its fifth year, Small Business Saturday has been embraced as part of the holiday shopping tradition as each year shoppers, businesses and public officials come together to Shop Small® and show their neighborhood pride.
Participants include Accent on Home, Boyd Thomas Clothing, Bristol & Bragg Jewelers, Divine Design Embroidery, Hwy 411S Antiques Mall, Jeepism, Miss Lily’s Cafe’, The Shoppes at Homespun, This N That Vendors Mart, Vienna Coffee, The Village Tinker, Dandy Lions and Volunteer Pharmacy.
Understanding the important contributions small businesses make to their communities, the Blount Partnership is pleased to organize Small Business Saturday. On November 29, everyone is encouraged to take part in Small Business Saturday by stopping by to support local businesses and receive Shop Small® giveaways like tote bags, buttons and balloons.
Blount County Mayor Ed Mitchell, Alcoa Mayor Don Mull and Maryville Mayor Tom Taylor collectively issued a proclamation announcing Saturday, Nov. 29 as Small Business Saturday for the county.
“The backbone of this community is small businesses and that’s why it’s important to recognize Small Business Saturday,” said Taylor. “We are really indebted to the Chamber for helping small businesses.”
American Express created the Neighborhood Champions program to help rally communities around Small Business Saturday and is working alongside numerous business organizations to support local Small Business Saturday celebrations throughout the country. Participating organizations include the American Chamber of Commerce Executives, the American Independent Business Alliance (AMIBA), the International Downtown Association, the Latino Coalition, the National Main Street Center, the U.S. Black Chambers, Inc. and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
“We feel like this is a great way to make people aware of shopping at local businesses during one of the busiest shopping days of the year,” said Blount Partnership President Bryan Daniels. “As the voice of small businesses, we want to do all we can to help promote our many small businesses.”
Small business owners can learn more about taking part in Small Business Saturday and download free marketing materials on www.shopsmall.com. Consumers can also visit the site to find small merchants to shop at on Small Business Saturday.