Evan Vitale Consulting: Small Business Saturday gives extra incentive to shop locally

Thursday, November 20, 2014

Small Business Saturday gives extra incentive to shop locally – WDBJ7

Latest post from Evan Vitale Consulting -

ROANOKE, Va. -

You’ll find some of the year’s best deals at the big stores on Black Friday, but the Saturday after is a chance for small businesses to shine.

Small Business Saturday will feature a “passport program” to give shoppers an extra incentive to support local businesses. Shoppers can use this to enter into a drawing for giveaways.

The Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce, the Salem-Roanoke County Chamber, Vinton Area Chamber and Botetourt County Chamber are working together on this.

Chamber members held a news conference Thursday morning to talk about the importance of supporting local businesses.

“At the end of the day, when people spend money [locally], it helps drive the local economy,” says Barry Henderson, Roanoke Chamber chairman.

Denise Gaston, the manager of Ladles and Linens, says small businesses offer a “friendlier atmosphere.”

She says just in the fourth quarter, which is this season, the business makes about half of its revenue for the whole year.

If you want to participate in the passport program, you can pick one up from the Botetourt, Roanoke, Salem or Vinton Chambers or at some participating small businesses. Click here to print one yourself.

You have to go to at least five small businesses in the Ronaoke Valley and have someone in the store sign off on your passport.

Return the passport to any of the Chambers between December 1 and 4. You’ll be entered into a drawing to win gift cards and other fun prizes.

This passport program is free.

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