Shop Small Saturday, now in its sixth year, promotes customers supporting independently and locally owned businesses.
The Greater Greer Chamber of Commerce and Greer Station Association merchants have been preparing for this weekend with promotions. The Chamber is inviting shoppers to post a selfie photograph at #ShopSmallSelfie to earn a randomly selected post to win a $50 gift card.
The Shoppes on Trade and Greer Trading Post, both on Trade Street, have full stores of boutique vendors offering apparel, jewelry, shoes, and items for the family and pets and Christmas gifts. The Trading Post has special $5 and $1 tables.
Shops throughout Greer and along Wade Hampton Boulevard including fitness centers are among the businesses celebrating Shop Small Saturday. There are a variety of restaurants offering shoppers the opportunity to spend all day perusing shops.
Small Business Saturday was originated to help businesses to keep money spent within the community. The shopping day is compounded by Greer Chamber’s Keep the Green in Greer initiative, encouraging residents and businesses to buy in Greer.
Every $100 spent at a local business, an average of $45 is re-circulated into the community, versus only $14 at a big box store, according to the South Carolina website www.lowcountrylocalfirst.org.
The National Retail Federation reports 20 percent of sales occur during the holiday shopping season.
The city of Greer retail sales reached $1.034 billion last year and is growing at a 22 percent rate.