Vendor Applications Closed.
We can’t wait to see you all in November!
See You All Saturday, November 30, 2024
Crowne Plaza, Warwick
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The best place to shop for the upcoming holiday season!
It’s a day to celebrate a variety of RI small businesses, all in one convenient location! These businesses are the heartbeat of our local economy. Please join us in supporting Small Business Owners, Entrepreneurs, Artists, and Crafters on Saturday, November 25, 2023.
ABOUT THE EVENT
Small Business Saturday Shop RI is a holiday shopping showcase featuring more than 150 diverse vendors. These include: entrepreneurs, artists, Farm Fresh RI, Social Venture Enterprises, veterans, minority-owned, and disability-owned businesses — and it’s THE best place to shop small in RI with a wide selection of unique services and products all in one convenient location!
This event is free for the whole family. There is no admission fee or cost for parking!
Organized by a collaboration of the Small Business Administration, Center for Women and Enterprise, Veterans Business Outreach Center, and the Rhode Island Developmental Disabilities Council.
ABOUT SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY
Small Business Saturday is a shopping holiday held each year on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. American Express launched the campaign in 2010 to rally support and dollars for small business owners in the holiday shopping rush. The day has been steadily increasing in popularity as an alternative to the chaos of Black Friday and Cyber Monday, which typically support major retail companies.
Small Business Saturday’s “Shop Small” message encourages consumers to engage in their local communities by supporting the small business economy. This is promoted by all types of local businesses — restaurants, cafes, spas, retail shops, entrepreneurs, community artists, etc. — making it an exciting day for all who participate.
Nationally celebrated, RIDDC is the first state-funded organization to create the one day, pop-up mall experience, which included 150 vendors, including twenty-six entrepreneurs with disabilities, veterans, and many minority-owned businesses. In 2023, a record breaking 3,500 holiday shoppers gathered for Small Business Saturday Shop RI (SBSSHOPRI), which returned to its former in-person venue at the Crowne Plaza in Warwick, RI. 2023 was another banner year.
Why shop small?
Small businesses are essential for healthy local economies, so when you shop small and local you are supporting your own community. In Rhode Island, small business make up 98% of registered businesses and provide jobs to 57% of all people who are employed in the state.
Why is our event unique?
The day offers visitors a once-in-a-year opportunity to browse a cross-section of businesses from across the state without the hassle of driving from place to place, and allows businesses to network with those from other communities. Together we can help our little state’s small business economy grow and thrive. In 2017, the event welcomed over 1,500 customers, and in 2018 there were over 2,000 customers. In 2019, we were SOLD OUT for the first time with 125 vendors, had the most diversified businesses with unique gifts and specialty items, and had over 2,800 customers.In 2020, given COVID-19, we organized a virtual holiday shopping platform for over 100 vendors that began on Small Business Saturday and continued to be available for people to shop online throughout the month. In 2021 we welcomed an estimated 3,000 shoppers and in 2022 our guest count grew even more to 3,500. In 2023, we again hosted 150 vendors across a wide range of categories from homewares to pet supplies and more, and 3,500 shoppers. We can’t wait to see what 2024 has in store.
