Gwinnett Businesses Say 'Shop Small' on Small Business Saturday

If Black Friday was a day for big box stores and mega-malls, Saturday is your day to #ShopSmall.

Gwinnett County retailers have been gearing up for Small Business Saturday, a day when shoppers are encouraged to make some of their holiday purchases at independently owned stores.

Early this week, the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce posted on Facebook, reminding folks to think locally when they shop.

“After Black Friday, don’t forget to #ShopSmall this Saturday!” the post read. “Show your love for our local small businesses. We promise, they’ll love you back.”

Many locally owned businesses in Gwinnett are planning special offers for the day, which started in 2010 as a promotion by American Express. Some call it a bit of a break between the craziness of Black Friday and Cyber Monday, when many online retailers offer special deals.

“If you think about it, by the time you get to the weekend, people want to get out and do something,” Meg Earhart, owner of Sparkle Designs in Lawrenceville, told the Gwinnett Daily Post. “They want to walk around, grab a bit to eat, maybe enjoy a cupcake and shop for something unique, and small towns have that.”

The Gwinnett Convention and Visitors Bureau highlighted 10 Gwinnett County locals to consider on Small Business Saturday. They range from the Dizzy Gypsy, a Lawrenceville “awesomeness, yoga & creativity center” to Queen of Hearts, an antiques and interiors shop in Buford.

“Getting some great Black Friday sales is great, but it’s not always fun or reasonable to camp out and survive a stampede just to save $20,” reads the bureau’s post. “Lucky for you there’s a number of mom and pop stores with awesome sales as well!”