MISSOULA – Black Friday is coming to an end but Saturday offers a whole new savings opportunity for shoppers.
Small Business Saturday began as an American Express promotion in 2010, but has outgrown it’s initial purpose and is now a day for connecting shoppers with local small businesses.
Downtown Missoula Partnership is offering some new events planned for the special day to promote getting out there and shopping at small businesses around Missoula.
Starting at 10 a.m. the MSO hub will have free hot cocoa, Shop Small goodies and a list of Small Business Saturday sales and deals .
You can also pick up a bingo card that when stamped at participating business can win you prizes.
Small shops in the area say that while the event does help stimulate their business, the day has become its own special shopping day.
“It’s grown, I mean I sort of actually poo-poed the idea in the beginning, I’m not always a joiner. But it’s worked out to be a very positive thing and I think people, actually, as much as they like to support in a monetary way, they like to say thanks or being here and doing that and doing your thing,” said Rockin Rudys Manager Bruce Micklus. “It’s turned into being way more than just a commercial kind of holiday.”
The Executive Director of the Downtown Missoula Partnership, Linda McCarthy, says that the success of Small Business Saturday “is a clear indicator to us that Missoula believes in supporting small, locally-owned businesses.”
