Small Business Saturday 2024 In Vienna: See Sales, Deals

VIENNA, VA — Saturday, Nov. 30, is a crucial day for independently owned local businesses in Vienna. 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. 2.

The Town of Vienna's Economic Development will host a Passport to Vienna promotion starting on Small Business Saturday. Shoppers can collect stamps from participating stores for a chance to win prizes. Five stamps will get the shopper a chance to win. Pick up the passport at any participating business.

The economic development website has a directory of small businesses within Vienna, from restaurants to retail and services. You can also find holiday season promotions and events in the Vienna Business Association's holiday guide.

A few of the Vienna business specials include:

• Pure Green Vienna: $5 smoothie on Small Business Saturday
• Trousseau: Free gift with purchase on Small Business Saturday (one per customer) and a raffle for a $50 Trousseau gift card
• Bards Alley Bookshop: Spin the prize wheel with a purchase for rewards like an advanced reader copy, candy, or a treasure box item while supplies last.
• Big Planet Comics: 25 percent off soft cover and hardcover graphic novels, roleplaying games, and manga. 20 percent off all classic comic book back issues.
• Karin's Florist: Buy three Christmas ornaments, get the fourth of equal or lesser value for free. The offer is good for in-store purchases on Saturday only.
• Pear Tree Cottage: 10 percent off purchases of $200 or more.
• Trace the Zero Waste Store: Pop-ups with other small businesses will be hosted along with treats and baked goods for shoppers.

Since it started in 2010, consumers have reported spending an estimated $163 billion at small businesses across all 12 Small Business Saturdays combined.

There are 854,172 small businesses in Virginia that make up an estimated 99.6 percent of the state's businesses, according to the U.S. Small Business Administration’s 2024 state profiles. Small businesses employ 1.5 million people, an estimated 46 percent of Virginia's employees.

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 two of every three jobs over the past 25 years. Even a partial collapse of small businesses could weaken the overall U.S. economy, according to the Labor Department.