Saturday is shop small businesses day

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - Local merchants are hoping consumers will skip big box retailers and national chain stores to shop local this weekend.  "Small Business Saturday" is a movement to get consumers off Main Street and into unique, locally owned businesses.

In 2011, more than 100 million people nationwide came together to Shop Small in their communities, supporting the local merchants that in turn directly support their communities,  In Mobile, participating shoppers were able to check off their holiday gift lists, without waiting in long lines and dealing with crowded parking lots.

Many merchants in Downtown Mobile have teamed up with American Express this year to offer Small Business Saturday shoppers an added bonus, a $25 credit on their bill when they use their American Express card to buy at least $25 worth of merchandise. Cards must be registered ahead of time, which takes less than a minute at www.shopsmall.com.

The “Shop Small, Shop Local” movement has gained momentum in recent years as people realize the impact of spending with businesses that reinvest in their communities. According to the 3/50 Project, an organization that promotes stronger local economies through support of independent retailers, “for every $100 spent in locally owned, independent stores, $68 returns to the community through taxes, payroll and other expenditures. That same amount spent in a national chain only keeps $43 in the local economy. Spend it online and nothing comes home.”

Most Downtown Mobile retailers will be open Saturday, November 24, 2012 from 10:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. For a complete list of downtown merchants, click here .