Local merchants geared up for "Shop Small" event

Saturday marks the fourth annual Small Business Saturday, and consumers are being encouraged to "think big, shop small" as they head out to the Downtown Blytheville where local merchants are participating.

This year, for the first time since Small Business Saturday began, Blytheville will be an endorsed participant for the sales event -- making it one of only 200 communities across the country to receive an official endorsement.

The event, sponsored by American Express, is placed between two of the biggest shopping days of the year, Black Friday and Cyber Monday, with hopes of swinging some of that buying power away from the "big box" stores and toward smaller, locally owned shops.

According to the event's website, 52 percent of what is spent at locally owned businesses stays in the community, having positive affects on the local economy.

This year the event has added a social networking component, allowing shoppers across the country to share their favorite stores and items via Facebook and Twitter by using "I will #ShopSmall for (favorite thing) at (favorite business) in my neighborhood on Nov 30."

"We hope people will come downtown instead of leaving town," Main Street Blytheville Executive Director Megan Atzert said. "Because they can get everything on their list downtown."

cpinkard@blythevillecourier.com