Small-Business Saturday strives to generate interest in local businesses

First there was Black Friday, then Cyber Monday. On November 27 comes Small Business Saturday—a national movement to drive shoppers to local merchants across the United States.

Joining American Express OPEN in declaring the Saturday after Thanksgiving as Small Business Saturday, are an initial group of more than a dozen advocacy, public and private organizations, including the 3/50 Project, Chicago Convention & Tourism Bureau, Greater Boston Convention and Visitors Bureau, The Los Angeles Convention and Visitors Bureau, National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Main Street Center and Yelp!.

‘Small business is the engine of job creation in the U.S. economy,” said Kenneth I. Chenault, chairman and chief executive officer, American Express. “It is also among the sectors hardest hit by the recession. By spreading the word about Small Business Saturday, we can help raise awareness about the critical role small businesses play in cities and towns across the country at a time when they need support the most.”

Learn more on Small-Business Saturday’s Facebook page.