Customizable Marketing Materials From AmEx Now Available for Small Business Saturday

For small businesses looking to promote Small Business Saturday, American Express’ Shop Small Studio is providing a variety of marketing materials to help business owners attract and engage with their customers.

On November 25, the Saturday after Thanksgiving, small retailers across the country will celebrate Small Business Saturday, founded in 2010 by American Express as a day dedicated to supporting small businesses. According to AmEx, 112 million shoppers participated in Small Business Saturday 2016, spending a reported $15.4 billion. That Saturday, booksellers will simultaneously participate in the fifth annual Indies First, a collaborative event among authors, publishers, retailers, and readers to celebrate independent bookstores and local communities.

Introduced in 2016, AmEx’s Shop Small Studio includes customizable downloadable marketing materials for social networks, websites, and storefronts to help users create personalized profile pictures, e-mail templates, posters, and more to promote their business. In addition, signage for stores and websites is available for free download on the American Express website, and small business owners have the opportunity to create their own free online ads.

Eligible small businesses participating in Small Business Saturday can also apply to receive a Shop Small merchandise kit by mail, which includes tote bags, thank you cards, stickers, and more to decorate the store for the day. Details about which stores are eligible can be found on American Express’ Frequently Asked Questions page, but booksellers should apply soon, as the number of kits is limited.

Once again this year, American Express is inviting stores to participate in the Small Business Saturday Neighborhood Champion program: individuals, organizations, and groups come together to organize neighborhood events and promotions to raise awareness for the day, encouraging local businesses to participate and customers to get out and shop local. Booksellers and other businesses that sign up to be Neighborhood Champions are also eligible to receive a Small Business Saturday event kit with Shop Small merchandise.

Booksellers participating in Small Business Saturday are encouraged to get on the American Express Shop Small map, a searchable map that helps customers find small businesses in their city or town. To learn more about how to get listed, American Express Card-accepting merchants can sign in to their AmEx account.