'Shopping Small' Saturday in Alexandria

Small Business Administrator Maria Contreras-Sweet and Virginia Sen. Mark Warner pumped up shoppers and local business owners Saturday as part of a Small Business Saturday kickoff event in Alexandria, according to a news release from the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce.

The two stopped by Hooray for Books, 1555 King St., a locally owned bookstore that specializes in children’s books.

In addition, the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce handed out more than 250 shopping bags, maps, coffees and pastries at their stands on Market Square in Old Town and Pork Barrel BBQ in Del Ray. Temperatures were in the 40s Saturday under partly cloudy skies.

The Small Business Saturday #shopsmall promotion was held in association with the Small Business Saturday Coalition - a partnership with the US Chamber of Commerce and American Express.

In all, 25 lucky shoppers found a $25 American Express Gift Card in their shopping bags to use in their holiday shopping.

According to Chamber President & CEO John Long: “The Alexandria Chamber of Commerce is proud to welcome Administrator Contreras-Sweet to Alexandria. Through the coordinated partnership with the Small Business Administration, American Express and the Small Business Coalition we can leverage our resources and promote Alexandria’s small businesses. As the voice of business in the City, we look forward to working with various stakeholders to ensure Alexandria remains one of the country’s top venues for small business shopping, not just today but every day of the year.”

“We are excited to be promoting Alexandria and Alexandria businesses as the place to ‘shop small’ for big rewards. The majority of Alexandria businesses are independently owned and thus face unique challenges in competing for shoppers. Events such as this provide cross-marketing opportunities for Alexandria businesses, where shoppers can find one-of-a-kind treasures as they begin their holiday preparations,” stated Shari Simmans-Bolouri, director, Events & Communications, for Alexandria Chamber of Commerce.

PHOTO: Alexandria City Councilwoman Del Pepper stops for a photo Saturday with Chamber staff Members Shari Simmans-Bolouri and Maria Ciarrocchi at Pork Barrel BBQ in Del Ray. Photo courtesy of Alexandria Chamber of Commerce