Small Business Saturday 2020: Help Them Stay Afloat In Alexandria

ALEXANDRIA, VA — Small businesses have been the hardest hit by the coronavirus pandemic, making Small Business Saturday in 2020 more vital than ever. This year, the all-local shopping event falls on Nov. 28 in Alexandria. It's part of the larger Alexandria Shop Small Week from Nov. 27 to Dec. 6.

Independently owned boutiques, gift shops, mom-and-pop hardware stores, restaurants and more in Old Town, Del Ray and other areas of Alexandria are facing unprecedented challenges due to coronavirus-related restrictions and shutdowns.

Below is a list of independently-owned Alexandria businesses participating in Small Business Saturday, according to Visit Alexandria. Click on each business for specials offered on Small Business Saturday.

• 3 SISTERS
• 529 KIDS CONSIGN
• ACME MID-CENTURY + MODERN
• ALEXANDRIA VISITOR CENTER
• AR WORKSHOP ALEXANDRIA
• ART LEAGUE, INC. (update: closed and operating online only)
• BELLACARA
• BLOOMERS
• BOXWOOD
• DEJAN STUDIO JEWELRY
• DEL RAY ARTISANS
• THE DOG PARK
• ENCORE CONSIGNMENT BOUTIQUE
• GOLD WORKS
• GOLDFINCH
• GOSSYPIA
• HAZEL O. SALON
• THE HIVE
• HOORAY FOR BOOKS!
• THE HOUR SHOP
• IMAGINE ARTWEAR
• INQ TATTOOS
• KATHERINEHELENA JEWELRY
• KING'S JEWELRY
• THE LUCKY KNOT
• MASON AND GREENS
• MINT COLLECTIVE
• MINT CONDITION
• MONDAY'S CHILD
• MYSTIQUE JEWELERS
• OLD TOWN BOOKS
• THE OLD TOWN SHOP
• PASSIONATELY PETS
• PATINA POLISHED LIVING
• PENNY POST
• PRINCIPLE GALLERY
• QUEEN BEE DESIGNS
• RED BARN MERCANTILE
• SALON DEZEN
• SERAFINO FINE ITALIAN LEATHER & ACCESSORIES
• SHE'S UNIQUE JEWELRY & GIFTS
• THE SHOE HIVE
• SILVER PARROT
• THE SPICE & TEA EXCHANGE OF ALEXANDRIA
• TEN THOUSAND VILLAGES
• THREADLEAF
• TODAY'S CARGO
• TORPEDO FACTORY ART CENTER
• TWIST BOUTIQUE
• UNLIMITED BIKING
• VINTAGE MIRAGE
• WEAR EVER JEWELRY
• YOUR CBD STORE

American Express has a growing list of Small Business Saturday participants. Did we miss anyone small businesses with specials? Tell us in the comments or send an email to emily.leayman@patch.com and we’ll add it to the list.

In addition, the 700 to 1100 blocks of King Street will be closed to vehicular traffic to let restaurants expand outdoor dining onto the sidewalks and street. Many restaurants along the blocks will have specials. For example, Village Brauhaus will offer Glühwein, Spiked Hot Apple Cider annd Boozy Hot Chocolate (last two available have non-alcoholic option). All are available to go as well.

Be sure to check out other events for Alexandria Shop Small Week. It kicks off with Plaid Friday, Alexandria’s small business version of Black Friday. That's followed by Museum Store Sunday, Cyber Monday, and Giving Tuesday. Need gift ideas? Visit Alexandria has a new Guide to Alexandria Holiday Shopping covering in-person and online shopping with gift options in different categories.

Temporary closures, capacity restrictions, decreased demand for products and services and delays due to supply-chain issues have led to unprecedented challenges for small-business owners. But the “Shop Small” movement continues amid these hardships.

“This holiday season looks a little different, but we can still share joy,” American Express, which established Small Business Saturday in 2010, said in a statement. “Shop small and support your favorite small businesses — both in store and online — all holiday season long.”

Sixty-two percent of small businesses in the United States need to see sales income return to the same rate it was pre-pandemic before the end of the year to stay in business, according to American Express.

These businesses, many family-owned, were already fighting for survival against malls, big box stores and online retailers before the pandemic.

Since 2010, local business supporters have spent more than $100 billion on Small Business Saturday, according to American Express.

A Shop Small Consumer Impact survey from American Express before the pandemic found that 73 percent of people think empty storefronts are a national issue, and 84 percent agree the increase in empty storefronts and the closing of small, independently owned businesses negatively affect their local communities.

The survey showed that when consumers are aware of the impact of spending their dollars locally, 75 percent said they would be more likely to purchase a product or service from small, independently owned businesses.

For every dollar spent at a U.S. small business, approximately 67 cents stays in the local community, according to American Express. This helps independent shops and restaurants keep their doors open and meet pay for their workers — your neighbors.

That amounts to about $67 billion that has stayed in local communities since Small Business Saturday began, according to American Express.

“With so many small businesses hit hard in 2020, it’s more important than ever to shop locally this holiday season to ensure they are able to continue operating in 2021,” Connors said.