Amex is offering a host of free resources
YSN Staff
Say what you will about American Express’s high merchant fees (they claim it’s justified by delivering more affluent customers), but the company has been a vocal champion of small businesses.
Specifically, this month marks the 14th anniversary of Small Business Saturday, the Amex marketing program that encourages consumers to support local retailers by “shopping small.”
This year’s campaign, which kicks off on Nov. 30 (the day after Black Friday), will once again be supported by the financial services giant with a host of free resources, including signage, digital assets and marketing tips.
Origin Story
Amex launched the initiative in 2010 during the depths of the Great Recession to help drive more holiday shopping to small businesses. Soon after, Small Business Saturday and the year-round “Shop Small” campaign were recognized by the U.S. Senate and officials in all 50 states, given the impact of independent retail on national, state and local economies.
Indeed, according to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the nation’s roughly 33 million small businesses comprise 99% of all companies and account for roughly 40% of U.S. gross domestic output (GDP), which equates to trillions of dollars of economic activity.
Taking Care of Business
Today, Small Business Saturday has grown into an annual holiday shopping tradition. To continue promoting the message and help drive traffic to local independents, Amex is once again providing a range of complimentary marketing resources, available at the Shop Small Resource Hub. There, local merchants will find:
- Free social media posts
- Free in-store signage
- Discounts on services like FedEx, Quickbooks, Indeed and Constant Contact
- Educational insights to help drive business
In addition, Amex encourages independents to list their stores on its traffic-driving small business finder map.
Hopefully, as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce stated, the resources will remind consumers that “As you shop for gifts this season, don’t forget about the numerous small businesses that support your local economy and employ your friends and neighbors.”
