When is Small Business Saturday and what is it about?
SOMERSET ― Small business owners in Somerset County are ready to promote their products and services to customers this Saturday, Small Business Saturday, a yearly nationwide event that encourages people to support local businesses while doing their holiday shopping.
So whether it’s apparel and accessories, food gifts, bath products, craft items, spa sessions or other gift ideas that shoppers are looking for this season, there are small businesses, with both physical and online storefronts, throughout Somerset County that offer personal and unique gifts for both holiday and year-round gift giving.
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This year has been the busiest to date for Matt Reckner, the Startup Alleghenies entrepreneurship and innovation coach for Somerset County. He said that many of Somerset County’s new entrepreneurs have decided to expand a hobby into a “side gig” business by selling their products and services at vendor shows and online shopping sites like the Alleghenies Marketplace.
What is the Alleghenies Marketplace?
In July, Startup Alleghenies started the Alleghenies Marketplace, an online store that features products from 78 small businesses in a six-county region, to help these local entrepreneurs grow their businesses in this area and beyond.
About 25 of the small businesses in the Alleghenies Marketplace are located in Somerset County, including: Byers Botanicals, which sells indoor plants and plant-related products; Curious Creations Studio, a pottery studio that opened Oct. 20 at 118 W. Main St. in Somerset, offering pottery classes and locally-made ceramic products; On Point Adventure Foods, which sells homemade, shelf-stable and nutritious freeze-dried meals, fruits and snacks; 814 Point Blank Studio, which sells handcrafted bullet stud earrings; and Small Town Wicks & Suds, which also has a physical store at 510 E. Main St. in Somerset and sells handmade candles, wax melts, air fresheners, bath products and more.
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For the holiday shopping season, Startup Alleghenies has put together a 2023 Holiday Gift Guide that introduces shoppers to a fraction of the small businesses whose products and services are part of the Alleghenies Marketplace. The gift guide is available in print at Uptown Works in Somerset and online at allegheniesmarketplace.com.
“There’s a need for businesses to get their products online, and also to open up to regional shoppers as well,” he said. “We’re seeing a decent amount of sales (at the Alleghenies Marketplace) coming from out of state, so this is opening up new markets for them.
“It’s kind of a one-stop shop if people are looking for local gifts.”
How can shoppers support local small businesses?
Holiday vendor shows like the Christkindl Market, which is taking place from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday in Somerset, also offer local small business owners the opportunity to introduce themselves to a wider range of clientele.
Brick-and-mortar retail stores throughout Somerset County will be offering special promotions and sales as well during Small Business Saturday to encourage shoppers to shop local.
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Reckner said that one of the best ways that Somerset County shoppers can support local businesses throughout the year is to share the business’s social media pages with friends and family members.
“For brick-and-mortar stores, get out and visit them. There’s always lots of local events with small business vendors participating,” he said.
“Also, share their Facebook and social media pages – it doesn’t cost anything (to do). If everyone shared two of their favorite local small businesses on social media and challenged their friends and family to do the same, that’s something that helps not just on Small Business Saturday but will help the business grow long term.”
This article originally appeared on The Daily American: Small Business Saturday promotes shopping from local merchants for holiday gifts.
