There’s no shortage of local events planned for this year’s Small Business Saturday — Nov. 30 — all geared toward getting people out to celebrate their communities and support local businesses.
Wedged between Black Friday, when many people storm big-box retailers for bargains, and Cyber Monday, when shoppers rely on their devices to find the best deals — Small Business Saturday encourages buyers to spend their money in locally owned shops, restaurants and other businesses.
The day was initiated in 2010 by American Express with the intent to drive consumer spending to small businesses across America. The company reports that the initiative has helped generate more than $200 billion in reported sales.
Communities throughout Berks, Chester and Montgomery counties have been working hard to promote the day, planning a variety of events to bring people onto their streets and into their businesses.
TriCounty Area Chamber of Commerce Events
Pottstown-based TriCounty Area Chamber of Commerce promotes Small Business Season, encouraging shoppers to patronize local enterprises throughout November and December.
“Local businesses are the backbone of our community, creating jobs, supporting local causes, and offering unique products and services that give our area its character,” said Hailey Heimbach, marketing and communications director. “That’s why we celebrate Small Business Season from November 1st through December 31st, emphasizing the importance of shopping small and local during the busiest shopping months of the year.”
The chamber is sponsoring a Small Business Season Gnome Contest to encourage shoppers to visit small businesses. Visitors can locate a gnome in participating businesses, snap a picture of themselves with it and post it on Facebook, tagging the chamber and the business location.
The contest extends through December, with a winner randomly selected from the photos posted each week.
Participating businesses are located in Pottstown, Boyertown, Wyomissing, Gilbertsville, Limerick, Royersford and Collegeville. More information is available on the Chamber of Commerce’s website.
Shop Small to Win Big
Another event that includes businesses in several counties is Shop Small to Win Big, an initiative of Hello 422, an organization that promotes small businesses located along the Route 422 corridor from Douglassville to Phoenixville.
With more than 100 businesses participating in Shop Small to Win Big, shoppers have a wide range of options, explained Chris Lerch, founder of Hello 422. Anyone who spends $50 or more at a single location on Small Business Saturday is eligible to submit their receipts and have a chance at winning some of more than $9,300 worth of gift cards to be shared among local shoppers.
Lerch started the event in spring of 2020 to encourage people to support small community businesses that were struggling during the pandemic. Since its inception, shoppers have submitted receipts for more than $300,000 spent in local stores and restaurants.
Also set for Small Business Saturday is a nacho crawl, during which participants can visit about 20 businesses along the Route 422 corridor offering a variety of nachos and other items. Information about both events is available at Hello 422’s Shop Small to Win Big 2024 Facebook page.
Berks County Main Street Communities
Communities in Berks County are gearing up for Small Business Saturday with events in locations including West Reading, Kutztown, Hamburg and Boyertown.
Shoppers in Boyertown can participate in a Shop Small Bingo game, while Hamburg businesses are offering Shop Local Passports, along with activities, giveaways and specials.
There will be a Christmas Raffle in Kutztown, where shoppers can bring five or more receipts for Saturday purchases from local businesses to the Kutztown Community Partnership building at 306 W. Main Street for a chance to win a gift basket.
Also on the schedule for Saturday are special sales and deals in shops, a pet pantry supply drive by Friend Inc., train rides, a gift-wrapping station, and performances by the Kutztown Community Choir. Santa Claus will be receiving visitors at the Strand Theatre on North White Oak Street.
And in West Reading, a family fun center will be located in the area of Sixth and Penn avenues, offering live music, swag bag giveaways to early shoppers, games for kids and other events.
“We’re looking forward to a big day,” said Robin Horman, who owns Lilibea’s in West Reading and helped organize the borough’s Small Business Saturday initiative. “Sixth and Penn will be the epicenter of everything, but shops and restaurants all through town will be doing lots of different and fun things.”
Go Taste Berks Event
The Greater Reading Chamber Alliance (GRCA) will wrap up its Go Taste Berks event on Small Business Saturday. Initiated at the beginning of November, the event is a monthlong restaurant-week style event by local GRCA member businesses.
“We wanted to get people into our small businesses for the entire month of November, leading up to Small Business Saturday,” said Leah Fassnacht, director of communications & marketing at GRCA.
Participants received a passport that was marked when they visited participating eateries and shops, enabling them to be entered in a drawing for prizes. The GRCA hosted a live event every Saturday in November at one of the locations listed on the passport.
The final event will be Saturday from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. at Isaac’s Craft Kitchen & Brewery in Wyomissing and will feature a visit from Santa.
Fun in West Chester
In West Chester, shops and restaurants will be offering specials on Saturday and Sunday, some parking downtown will be free and special events are scheduled.
The Making Spirits Bright Holiday Music Series kicks off its monthlong season of holiday concerts Saturday at 2 p.m. on the steps of the Chester County Courthouse on High Street. At 3 p.m., Santa Claus will tour the town on a fire truck as part of the celebration.
You can find more information on Downtown West Chester’s website.
Get Out and About
Small Business Saturday activities and shopping specials will be available in many other locations, as well. Check the websites and social media pages of local municipalities and community organizations for more information.
And take Lerch’s advice, which encourages everyone who’s able to get out and about the region, visiting new shops and restaurants and learning more about what’s available in various communities.
“It’s a short trip and very doable drive between a lot of these different places,” he said. “I’d say everyone should take a ride and visit some of these businesses that give back so much to their communities. They’re our neighbors and our friends.”
