This year’s Small Business Saturday is slated for Nov. 24.

Originally created by American Express in 2010, Small Business Saturday is an American shopping holiday that encourages shoppers to patronize brick and mortar businesses that are small and local. As an alternative to Black Friday and Cyber Monday, Small Business Saturday spotlights businesses where you live.

Locally in Polk County, Columbus, Saluda and Tryon participating independent  businesses will vie for more local holiday shoppers by opening early, staying open later, offering discounts and special promotions.

Shoppers are asked to avoid large chain stores on Small Business Saturday, stay away from malls, unless the business is locally owned, buy gifts at boutiques, galleries, gift stores, privately-owned hardware stores, florists, bakeries, wine merchants and more.

At a minimum, organizers stress, eat somewhere that is not part of a big chain. For more information, contact the Carolina Foothills Chamber of Commerce at 828-859-6236 or EDTC Director Libbie Johnson at 828-894-2895.

– article submitted by Libbie Johnson