Small Business Saturday 2025 In Ocean City: See Sales, Deals

OCEAN CITY, NJ — Saturday, Nov. 29, is a crucial day for independently owned local businesses in Ocean City. It’s Small Business Saturday, the kickoff to “shop small” events that emphasize the power of dollars spent in local communities.

Founded by American Express in 2010, Small Business Saturday is sandwiched between the major Black Friday retail shopping holiday, which tends to favor national brands, and Cyber Monday, an online shopping event that this year takes place on Dec. 1.

The stakes for small businesses are higher than ever this holiday shopping season. They have faced increased operating costs, supply chain disruptions and overall market uncertainty. Unlike large big box retailers, they often lack the financial resources and operational flexibility to easily absorb increased costs.

Ocean City celebrates local businesses downtown on Small Business Saturday; kids will also be able to visit with Santa from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Mark Soifer Park (9th Street and Asbury Avenue) or take a photo with Santa in a lifeguard boat from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. outside the Ocean City Music Pier. Free horse and carriage rides will be available 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. with boarding at 6th and Asbury.

The following local businesses are some of those participating in this year's event:

• Sea Gull Shop, 309 E. 55th St.
  • Limited edition South End Christmas ornament with any apparel purchase. With any $100 apparel purchase, you’ll receive a $20 gift certificate and South End sticker - plus the ornament.
• Shops at the Asbury, 801 Asbury Ave.
  • Various vendors are offering gifts, sales and promotions.
• Oh Sea Thrift, 841 Central Ave.
• Fazzio Interiors Inc., 733 Asbury Ave.
• Kay Jay's Doll Shoppe, 737 Asbury Ave.
• Elizabeth Eve Salon, 612 E. 8th St.
• Buy $100 gift card, get a $10 gift card
• Air Circus Kite Shop, 636 Asbury Ave. and 1114 Boardwalk

Since it started in 2010, consumers have reported spending an estimated $210 billion at small businesses across all 15 Small Business Saturdays combined.

There are 1.1 million small businesses in New Jersey, according to the U.S. Small Business Administration’s 2025 state profiles. That makes up 99.7 percent of New Jersey's businesses.

Small businesses are an important part of the state's economy - they employ 1.9 million, or 48.8 percent of New Jersey's employees.

Most New Jersey small businesses are in the professional, scientific and technical services industry.

Local businesses depend on increased sales in the last few months of the year to help them reach their revenue goals, and you’ll find plenty of in-store cheer and holiday happenings that will make the shopping experience fun.

Locally owned businesses recirculate a far greater percentage of revenue locally compared to absentee-owned businesses, according to the American Independent Business Alliance. Independents return about 48 percent of their revenues back into the local economy, compared to 14 percent returned to the local economy by chains.

Small businesses are typically defined by the federal government as those with fewer than 500 employees. They are responsible for about two of every three jobs since 1995, according to the Small Business Administration. Even a partial collapse of small businesses could weaken the overall U.S. economy.