Northern RI Chamber, Woonsocket Businesses Gearing For Small Business Saturday

The Northern RI Chamber of Commerce and the Blackstone Valley Independent Business Alliance are gearing for Small Business Saturday this weekend in Woonsocket, distributing about 100 mats for local business owners to advertise the day outside their doors. 

Small Business Saturday, two days after Thanksgiving, is a day for everyone to support the small businesses that the community thrives on. American Express founded the day in 2010 to help small businesses get exposure during the holiday season, when they might be otherwise overlooked. Whether you're a brick-and-mortar retail store, restaurant or online-only business, you’re a part of it, just by being a small business owner. To participate, you just have to be open for business this Saturday, Nov. 24.

To help make the most of your participation, American Express is offering free resources for you to use (visit “Promote My Business” section for more details), including:

• Personalized in-store signage
• Downloadable email and social media templates
• Success stories from small business owners who took advantage of last year’s Small Business Saturday

Jeanne Pepin Budnick, chairperson of  the Blackstone Valley Independent Business Alliance, and a co-owner of Pepin Lumber, said they recieved about 50 of the doormats from the Northern RI Chamber. "I only have 10 left," Budnick said Tuesday.

Budnick said the day is a national focus on their year-round effort to promote local business. "To me, it's just kind of goes along with bi-local," Budnick said, referring to the BVIBA's partnership with the Northern RI Chamber to promote locally owned businesses.

Budnick said the nationally advertised effort is slowly catching on - and any help getting people to think local when they shop is welcome.

Local businesses Budnick said she knows are participating this year include:

Vose True Value

Cabinet Gallery

Lil General

East Side Edibles

Nys Flowers

Inferno Audio

Piette's Jewelers

Kay's Restaurant

Bakery 'Cest Bon

"On Small Business Saturday, there's certainly nothing wrong with buying a gift certificate," either, Budnick said.

We'd like to give small businesses in Woonsocket a chance to post their hours and locations for Small Business Saturday in one place so local shoppers can find you.

Just add your business name, address, hours, and telephone number in the comments below — and note some of the products you have.

If you have a listing on the Woonsocket Patch Places Directory, you can also add that link to your comment so readers can easily find other info about your business. Don't have a listing? E-mail Rob Borkowski, robert@patch.com, and we'll set up a free listing for you.