West Seattle gets regional spotlight for ‘Small Business Saturday’

Three West Seattle businesses got a quick spotlight in that KING 5 story aired during last night’s newscast – all because they’re getting the word out that today is Small Business Saturday nationwide, meant to be a counterpoint to the bigbox-store emphasis during Black Friday. Watch the story and you’ll see Alki Bike and Board, CAPERS, and Sweetie. (Alki Bike and Board also is part of the WSB West Seattle Holiday Shopping/Business Guide, which we’re offering as another advertising showcase for local businesses this holiday season. They’ve got special deals; so does Clementine, another participant, which also has a hat trunk show/artist reception today. Also among those in the midst of a sale: WSB sponsor Mountain to Sound Outfitters.) One thing to consider about small local businesses: As Monday’s snow and road/bus woes reminded us, our peninsula can sometimes be more like an island, and a thriving local business community means you can find what you need here, especially during those times when you can’t (or don’t want to) leave!

ArborHeightsMom November 27, 2010 (9:21 am)

Great point on spending money where you live — would also like to say that no retail story is complete without mention of Carmilia’s, a wonderful store with a wonderful owner who never ever fails to give to local causes. Even during the doldrums of the recession, Linda has given to co-op preschool drives and sponsored the hope and healing fashion show! Call out to Clementine’s for also giving generously to local groups. Also there are many independent practitioners such as Sara Lightle at Sara’s Skin Butik who offer best-in-class services right here in West Seattle! I love when we get highlighted!

LR November 27, 2010 (10:19 am)

Cafe Rozella
home of the
Serious Coffee

Monosyllabic Girl November 27, 2010 (12:21 pm)

Is this small business Saturday a new thing? I have never heard of this before this year.

WSB November 27, 2010 (12:29 pm)

Yes – American Express came up with the idea, apparently – certainly they’ve been sponsoring mentions all over the place.

coffee November 27, 2010 (12:54 pm)

if memory serves me correctly, American Express started this a few years ago, with a contest to give a few small businesses 100K in marketing money to build your business. It was a great idea, and it appears that they are expanding it.

WSB November 27, 2010 (1:12 pm)

Here’s a little more “about”:
http://www.inc.com/nadine-heintz/american-express-launches-small-business-saturday.html
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Too bad AmEx didn’t do the advertising giveaway component to support small local businesses that sell advertising, instead of giant worth-billions-of-dollars Facebook, but I suppose that would have been a nightmare to administer!
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Anyway, we are hopeful that EVERY day will be “Small Business Shopping Day” here in West Seattle (and other fine communities). That’s part of the goal of the Only In Seattle campaign that the city has just launched (which IS advertising on our site, and other neighborhood news sites in the area) – http://onlyinseattle.org
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Thinking up some cool ways to tie into SBS next year in the meantime. Maybe a compilation of spotlights … even the people we have seen at the two bazaar/craft fair events we were just out covering are usually small-bizpeople too. – TR

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