This holiday season, consider a new shopping tradition. Beat the crowds and avoid the consumer frenzy at big box stores on Black Friday by instead supporting your favorite neighborhood co-op on November 26, Small Business Saturday!
Then, extend the goodwill through the holiday season and continue to support cooperatives around the country by making a donation to the Cooperative Development Foundation on Giving Tuesday, November 29!
Launched by American Express in 2010, Small Business Saturday falls on the first Saturday after Thanksgiving and encourages shoppers nationwide to support small, local businesses that impact their communities—that includes many of the country’s estimated 40,000 co-ops. A global day for giving back since 2012, Giving Tuesday has become the kick-off to the charitable season after a weekend of shopping events and now includes more than 30,000 partners in 68 countries.
In 2011, the U.S. Senate officially recognized Small Business Saturday, and last year, a record number of shoppers—95 million of them—supported their neighborhood businesses like never before, continuing to embrace the day as a holiday shopping tradition.
At shopsmallnow.americanexpress.com, consumers can search small, local businesses by business name, zip code or category. You can also promote your cooperative or other small business by signing up for free sample or customized marketing materials to help inspire your customers to shop small on November 26.