(Featured photo: Shoppers collected buttons for each of their purchases during the Small Business Saturday Crawl in downtown Augusta Nov. 27, 2022. Francie Klopotic/Augusta Good News)
The Saturday after Thanksgiving is Small Business Saturday, and Downtown Soul City will once again present its Small Business Saturday crawl from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 25.
“This is our third annual Small Business Saturday Crawl, where 14 local merchants are hosting unique activities and offering fantastic sales,” said Jennifer Tinsley, owner of FIELD Botanicals and Chair of the merchant association Downtown Soul City, in a news release. “It’s all about shopping local away from the craziness of the big box stores, supporting the small businesses that make our downtown fun and unique, and coming together as a community to embrace the holiday season.”
The event kicks off at 10 a.m. at Augusta & Co., 1010 Broad St., where the first 200 shoppers will receive complimentary locally designed canvas totes and crawl maps.
Crawl participants can receive a custom button with purchase at each sponsoring merchant. Each of the sponsoring merchants is also donating a gift basket valued at more than $50 for drawing – a total of 14 gift baskets in all. Participants can enter to win with each purchase at a store on the crawl.
“Small Business Saturday is more than just a day to buy gifts; it is also a celebration of local community, talent, and love. By supporting a small business this season, you’ll be getting a gift for a loved one but also giving the gift of community to the business owner,” Alexia Gonzalez, owner of The Earth Pantry, said in the news release. “We can make the holiday season even more meaningful to every person who walks into our store.”
Small Business Saturday was founded by American Express in 2010 and officially cosponsored by the Small Business Association beginning in 2011 and has become an important day for small businesses bringing in $17.9 billion event nationwide, according to the Small Business Association website.
“Shopping local for your holiday gifts ensures that your loved ones receive a thoughtful and personal gift. The effort made to visit stores in person and spend your money in Augusta contributes greatly to the success of our local economy,” said Sarah Childers, Experience and Community Engagement Manager at Destination Augusta. “We hope that any first-time event patrons will become recurring, engaged customers at our unique locally owned businesses.”
Participating merchants for this year’s Small Business Saturday Crawl include Art on Broad, Augusta Candle Company, The Book Tavern, Buona Caffe (Reynolds Street), The Earth Pantry, FIELD Botanicals, Freshwater, Grantski Records, Mod Home, Mod Ink, The Morris Museum of Art Gift Shop, Southern Roots Beauty Salon, Tiffinie Bleu Bridal and Urban K9.
The Small Business Saturday Crawl is sponsored by the participating merchants, Augusta & Co., Downtown Development Authority of Augusta and Fulcher Hagler LLP.
Augusta Good News, a member of the Georgia Press Association, is a local, digital newspaper. Subscribe to the newsletter here.
