Saturday, November 24, 2012
Just what is Small Business Saturday and why should you support it in Columbia?
Big name national retailers take the spotlight on Black Friday as their deep price cuts pull in shoppers in droves. What about those mom-and-pop businesses in Columbia and beyond that are the backbone of America’s economy? Just when do they get their day? That’s basically the question that was asked back in 2010 when the concept of Small Business Saturday was born. Small Business Saturday is “a day to celebrate and support small businesses and all they do for their communities,” the U.S. Small Business Administration explains on its website. American Express gets the credit for founding the shopping holiday, which got its official start on Nov. 27, 2010, according to the Small Business Saturday Facebook page. Celebrating its third year …
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Midnight opening at The Mall in Columbia is a trend that will continue, according to a mall official.
Despite some national outcry from both consumers and store employees, earlier Black Friday shopping hours are here to stay, if the crowds at The Mall in Columbia are any indication. "The crowds we had this year are a good indicator that the trend will continue," mall General Manager Katie Essing said. "The stores did well." For the second year, mall officials gave retailers the opportunity to open at midnight, and 20 stores — up from about a dozen last year — took advantage of that chance, according to Essing. Macy's joined the midnight brigade this year, which no doubt helped bring customers to the retail center, Essing said. "We heard from all 20 stores that it was successful and worthwhile," Essing said of the mall's midnight opening. …
Saturday, November 26, 2011
Business owners and elected leaders want you to shop small and shop local. Here's a few articles about local small businesses.
Friday, November 25, 2011
Small Business Saturday comes to your town this weekend.
Small businesses in quaint retail districts across the suburban Baltimore/D.C. region will be offering promotions and other enticements for shoppers who want to buy local for the holidays. More than a dozen public, private and advocacy organizations, supported by American Express OPEN, the company's small business unit, have teamed up to declare Nov. 26 as Small Business Saturday. (Full dislosure: American Express has signed on as a sponsor of small business-related content on Patch during the holidays.) There are incentives for both small businesses and shoppers. Business owners who sign up for the Facebook page receive a $100 Facebook advertising credit to help build an online presence for their business. For shoppers, American Express …
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Stores are competing for consumers looking for deals in a tough economy.
It appears holiday promotions will be more aggressive than ever this year. Walmart, Toys "R" Us and Gap are among the retailers who have said they’ll be open Thanksgiving Day. Target, Macy’s, Kohls and Best Buy will open at midnight for Black Friday deals, according to the Contra Costa Times, which said it was only a few years ago when Black Friday didn’t start until 5 a.m. And the promotions for Christmas shopping are already well underway. The week after Halloween, Arundel Mills had its Santa house up and running. Mr. Claus started making the rounds in the Mall at Columbia on Nov. 11. Costco started its Christmas decorating in August, according to The Consumerist, a subsidiary of Consumer Reports. Will you be shopping on Thanksgiving? …
Marge Neal
9:42 am on Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Ohai, Thanks for pointing that out. The editing process removed the first reference to mall General Manager Katie Essing; it's been fixed. — Marge more ›