Local businesses get ready for Small Business Saturday with special events, offers
Many small businesses around metro Detroit are offering special events and/or discounted pricing this weekend.
Shoppers peruse the racks at the Grandmont Rosedale Development Corporation's Shop Small event in 2023.
Sandwiched between Black Friday and Cyber Monday, Small Business Saturday aims to divert some of the attention away from Amazon and large chain stores.
The annual national campaign focuses on encouraging shoppers to support local businesses during the holiday shopping season, and businesses in metro Detroit are ready for the love.
The Detroit LGBT Chamber of Commerce distributes a list of its retail and service members the Wednesday before Small Business Saturday each year.
“To let them know that these organizations are LGBTQ owned, operated and or friendly, and they are open for business on Saturday,” said LGBT Chamber Founder and President Kevin Heard.
Heard says customers will see some new businesses on the list like the Twisted Soap Bar — which sells out of Eastern Market — and the Filipino bakery JP Makes and Bakes, which opened on Woodward earlier this month.
Many small businesses around metro Detroit are offering special events and/or discounted pricing for Small Business Saturday. Fantazma Market & Cafe on Trumbull Street is hosting a Small Business Saturday celebration from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 30.
Held in partnership with the Southwest Detroit Business Association and Corktown Business Association, the event will feature giveaways and exclusive shopping, live entertainment, special performances, and a chance to take family photos with Santa Claus. Admission is free and shuttle transportation will be available to and from the event, located at 1211 Trumbell St., that will connect the shopping districts in Southwest Detroit and Corktown.
The nonprofit Grandmont Rosedale Development Corporation will also host a free Small Business Saturday celebration, Holidays on Grand River.
The holiday pop-up will feature shopping from at least a dozen local businesses and food truck rally; live music performances by Maraj Virtuoso & Kevin Christian: The Better Things Collective; a poetry and Christmas book reading presented by InsideOut Literary Arts; a Santa’s workshop featuring activities from Arts & Scraps; photos with Santa Claus; Christmas tree lightning and more. The event will take place from 3-7 p.m. on Saturday at the Grandmont Rosedale Development Corporation, 19800 Grand River Ave., Detroit.
In Dearborn, the American Arab Chamber of Commerce is kicking off the holiday shopping season with a Women Only Winter Bazaar from 4-10 p.m. next Friday, Dec. 13, at the Saline Intermediate School. The event was created in collaboration with United Humanitarian Foundation and the Saline Intermediate School Student Council.
American Arab Chamber Executive Director Bilal Hammoud says its members offer unique cultural gifts for the holidays.
“If you want some of the best Yemeni coffee or tea, get a gift card from one of
the many Chamber members that we have that are coffee shops — Haraz, Qawah House, Shibam, they are phenomenal places to send people,” Hammoud said.
He says the American Arab Chamber plans to release its own holiday shopping guide soon.
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