Small Business Saturday: Area Businesses Plan for Minor Boost

Hazelwood small businesses are gearing up and no, it's not for Black Friday. Across the country Nov. 26 is dedicated to the small businesses helping keep the economy afloat with Small Business Saturday.

In honor of Small Business Saturday, a day dedicated to supporting small businesses on the busiest shopping weekend of the year, Better Business Bureau (BBB) is spreading awareness and advising consumers to support the small businesses in their area.

Last year as Small Business Saturday approached, Strini's Jewelers, a family-owned store located at Elm Grove Plaza on Lindbergh, said it takes a more traditional approach when it comes to bringing in business. When , owner Ray Strini told Patch he avoids fads in advertising and chooses instead to use his own mailing list for direct mail advertising.

"We offer service after the sale, and we do a lot of repair work—like watch repair, jewelry repair, setting and resetting," he said at that time. "Most chain stores don't offer those services."

Sandwiched between Black Friday and Cyber Monday, Small Business Saturday is one way to support the small businesses that you love.

“It’s great to have a day that’s completely dedicated to the success of our small businesses and it’s even better to think that the success of this day could lead to the growth and prosper of the small businesses in the days and years to follow,” said Paula Fleming, vice president of communications & marketing for BBB in a statement. “We’d like to encourage our consumers to take advantage of this day and show support to the small businesses in their community.”

Small Business Saturday Promotions
In preparation for Small Business Saturday, FedEX will be giving away 40,000 $25 American Express gift cards that can be used to shop at small businesses on Saturday. Exactly 30,000 will go to people who register at FedEx Facebook's page.

American Express is also giving a $25 statement credit to American Express card members who spend $25 or more on Small Business Saturday at a qualifying independent merchants that accept American Express. You have to register to receive the credit.

For small businesses, $100 in free Facebook ads will be awarded to the first 10,000 businesses that sign up.

Patch Small Business Saturday Deals
American Express and Patch are partnering to offer a deal to participating businesses and their customers. If a participating restaurant offers a $10 meal for $6, American Express pays the remainder of the $4 to the business, according to , regional publisher for Patch in Missouri.

“It’s a great deal for small businesses, because the customer gets a discount, they get the full price for the meal, (and) the exposure from the advertising and customers are (in) their business spending money,” Fuhriman explained.

Small Business Saturday Participants in Hazelwood

So if you have decided to support the local economy in the , you can find a listing online on Facebook.

Hazelwood Patch editors Joe Scott and Angela Atkinson contributed to this report.