Now that the mayhem of Black Friday has subsided and the allure of the one-day-only deals has passed, it’s time to get out of those crazed superstores for a while.  Shopping locally is an essential element of being part of your community and Small Business Saturday is a reminder for everyone to look no further than the boutique down the street for all your holiday present needs.

The 2nd annual Small Business Saturday is an impetus for people to support small businesses on arguably the busiest shopping weekend of the year.   The event is being sponsored by American Express in an effort to support local communities and help the economy at large. Organizers have been utilizing social media as a means of promoting the project, having people pledge to show their support on November 26.  The site also provides those participating in the event with free promotional materials, both for online and offline advertising. With over 2.5 million people liking the page on Facebook and talk of the event crossing the country, Small Business Saturday has grown greatly in popularity since its inception.

Though Black Friday forces people into the mega stores to get those mega deals, the crowds, lines and overall anxiety of the experience can be overwhelming.  The holiday season sees those superstores full to the brim with people, inventory flying off the shelves and parking lots a mess.  Small Business Saturday is a reminder that there are happy alternatives to these shopping nightmares.

If you need further motivation to take part in Small Business Saturday, make sure you use your American Express card at a participating retailer and get a $25 statement credit.

This Saturday, small is big.  Help out your community and support local businesses.  You’ll probably find that the ease, accessibility and friendly service of shopping at these local spots far outweighs the allure of a big ticket discounted item that will probably be out of stock by the time you get to the front of the line in the superstores.

What are your plans for holiday shopping?  Which are your favorite local stores?  Please share your ideas and leave your comments below.

Photo courtesy of Flickr