With the Holiday Season upon us, Small Business Saturday is right around the corner! This year, the annual holiday lands on Saturday, November 30th. Take a moment to learn about the history of Small Business Saturday, become familiar with some of the events that are happening around Wheeling, and make a plan to have a great Small Business Saturday!
History of Small Business Saturday
Small Business Saturday is an annual holiday that encourages shoppers to support the local economy. In 2010, American Express launched Small Business Saturday (SBS) as a campaign to help support small businesses. In 2011, Small Business Saturday gained support from the U.S. Senate as a designated holiday. The goals of SBS are to encourage consumers to shop locally and to increase awareness of the value and the impact of the local economy.
Happening Around Wheeling
Wheeling has so much to offer for Small Business Saturday! Aside from all of the amazing local restaurants, shops, here are some events to keep in mind!
Centre Market Balloon Drop: Kick off your day with a burst of fun at the Upper Market House in Centre Market at 10:00 A.M.! Over 200 colorful balloons will descend, each holding a surprise gift or exclusive discount from a local business. Don’t miss your chance to pop in for some festive fun!
Wheeling Artisan Center Screen Printing: From 10:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M., head over to the Wheeling Artisan Center for a creative adventure! Join Hannah from Spore Print Press and try your hand at screen-printing your own custom shirt or tote! Bring your own items or pick up a cool, thrifted tee that they sourced through Salvation Army (while supplies last). It’s a fantastic way to support local non-profits and leave with a one-of-a-kind design!
Market Plaza Ice Skating: Glide into the holiday spirit at Market Plaza from 1:00-5:00 P.M. on a synthetic ice rink that’s as fun as the real thing! Sponsored by The City of Wheeling, this ice skating extravaganza is perfect for all ages—so lace up those skates and make some magical memories!
Queen of the Valley Trolley: Let the Queen of the Valley Trolley be your ride to fun! Say goodbye to parking hassles—park for free at the intermodal parking garage and hop on the trolley! It will zip you between Centre Market, Market Plaza, and The Wheeling Artisan Center, making it easy to explore all the exciting activities. Check out the times in the image below and start your adventure without a worry in the world!
Make a Plan
Make a plan for Small Business Saturday! Check on your favorite local businesses on their social media pages to see what types of offers or events they have planned for this once-a-year event!
Here is a checklist to get you started on your plans:
- Make a plan for food & drinks! Choose where you like to go for either breakfast, coffee, brunch, lunch, dinner, or a sweet treat. You will need fuel to keep you going all day long!
- Make a plan for shopping! Create a list of your favorite local shops that you would love to visit and show some extra love this holiday!
- Make a plan for events! Check on the timeframes for local offerings and be sure to experience all of the local events that are calling your name.
- Set some time aside to be serendipitous! Be ready to stumble upon some new-to-you small businesses that you might just fall in love with. There are so many gems in our community!
Make it a Tradition
With so many ways to enjoy the holiday, make Small Business Saturday a tradition with family and friends, like I do! Continue traditions from years past or create some new ones! Celebrating SBS has become an annual tradition with my family!
This year we plan to continue the tradition of beginning the day with a shared meal followed by exploring all of the amazing small businesses and events in town! I cannot wait to explore Centre Market, visit Market Plaza, visit The Wheeling Artisan Center, and ride the Trolley this coming Saturday!
Call up some family and/or friends to make your plans for Saturday, November 30th! Cheers to a wonderful Small Business Saturday this year!
Cheers to a wonderful Small Business Saturday this year! Happy Holidays!
