Hampton Roads businesses don’t want you to forget about Small Business Saturday on Nov. 30.
It’s the Saturday in between the highly publicized shopping holidays of Black Friday and Cyber Monday. The first Small Business Saturday was in 2010 and started as a campaign created by American Express. Its purpose was to inspire people to shop at the small businesses within their communities.
Since 2016, the ViBe Creative District in Virginia Beach has been hosting a Small Business Saturday event. Kate Pittman, ViBe executive director, said its event is the largest in the region. She expects to have 100 participating businesses, including vendors and brick-and-mortar stores.
Vendors will be set up 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in ViBe Park (1800 Cypress Ave.), and live music will feature local musicians. A scavenger hunt through the district will gift 54 items worth $1,600 to the grand prize winner.
Additionally, The Garage VB will host an artisan pop-up market, and the Virginia Beach Art Center will have its holiday boutique with over a dozen artists selling handmade items. Many of the businesses will be running gift card deals and other promotions.
“Small Business Saturday is a national movement that we have made uniquely ours here in the ViBe Creative District,” Pittman said. “As a small business incubator, the ViBe has supported small-business development and economic development returns in a once forlorn neighborhood.”
The Shops at Hilltop in Virginia Beach will feature free horse-drawn carriage rides, the Doorway singers (an a cappella group dressed in Charles Dickens-style period costumes), a strolling Santa and select retailers offering in-store promotions, complimentary gift wrapping and festive activities. The Parlor Room will host a “piercing party” with a local jeweler and a photo booth, and The Painted Tree will have free food and live music.
“We traditionally celebrate this day with great enthusiasm and a ‘nod’ to a traditional holiday spirit,” said Janet Headrick, The Shops at Hilltop’s marketing director.
In Great Neck Village shopping center, Polish Boutique owners Ashley Knox and Sarah Winstead said they offer more value to their customers on Small Business Saturday by offering gift card specials and a free reusable bag with a $150 purchase. Additionally, they’re offering special pricing on their popular Gold Hinge skirts, and a pop-up fairy hair vendor will be on site.
“We offer Small Business Saturday promotions to thank our customers for showing up in our little corner of Great Neck Road,” Knox said.
In Norfolk, Selden Market will be celebrating Small Business Saturday with live entertainment, festive food, giveaways, a do-it-yourself gift wrap station, a letter to Santa station for families, Santa photo opportunities and over 40 vendors. Selden Market represents 10 storefront businesses.
Carla Jernigan, owner of Gypsy Soul Boutique in the ViBe District, has always participated in Small Business Saturday. This year, she’ll have a special gift for the first 50 customers and many doorbuster sale items.
“I’m super proud of my small business in the ViBe. All the businesses here have a strong sense of community and support each other,” Jernigan said. “Being a small business gives us the freedom to know our customers personally and provide them with certain items you know they’ll like.”
Lee Belote, jlbelote@verizon.net
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