Small Business Saturday SHOP RI (SBS SHOP RI) is far more than a 1-day shopping event for shoppers and local vendors. Launched in RI as the brain-child of a RI-resident, and now a national American Express event celebrating its fifth birthday, SBS SHOP RI continues to take the lead in very important ways for our state’s small businesses. The mission of the sponsoring organizations has expanded this year by offering grassroots educational assistance, (small business classes), personal coaching and individualized strategy sessions to help small business and vendors to grow their businesses.

Currently, six programs are available to vendors, ranging from creating a business plan to marketing to finances; a very big step for the fledgling operation. More significantly, the programs welcome people with disabilities and veterans, participants from the last event and those planning for this year’s event.

Last year, several organizations created a first-time event for SBS SHOP RI: An all Under-One-Roof event held at Crowne Plaza, Warwick. For vendors, this meant convenient access to statewide shoppers whether their small business was located in Wakefield or Woonsocket, and for visitors, it afforded a once-a-year opportunity to browse a cross-section of gifts, products and services from businesses from across the state without the hassle of driving from place to place. 93 Vendors attended and approximately 1500 people shopped at the various vendor booths. As an important aside, it also allowed businesses to network with those from other communities, a benefit the charter members continue to enjoy as year two begins.

This very small, very ambitious group of organizations made the spirit of holiday shopping much easier and happier for sellers and buyers alike. The grassroots coalition includes RI Developmental Disabilities Council, the U.S, SBA Veterans Business Outreach Centers, the Center for Women & Enterprise and the RI district office of the Small Business Administration. They created an opportunity to showcase the creativity, resourcefulness and quality of their entrepreneurs, unite them under one roof, and amplify and simplify the shopping experience for Rhode Island and nearby Massachusetts shoppers on Small Business Saturday.

Aware that 98.9% of employers in Rhode Island are small businesses, the organizers realized that they could serve the two-fold purpose of hosting and event and helping the long-range efforts of the small business community.

Now underway, the educational program has held 4 of the six small business classes averaging about 25-35 people per session, allowing individual time with the presenter and group strategizing sessions. Presenter Brian LaFauci, representing the Veterans Business Outreach Centers, noted,

“as we reviewed each potential vendor last year, the quality of the products offered was amazing. Many are part of our training sessions, and are now presenting their business concepts and working on their elevator speeches. They are enthusiastic and promising entrepreneurs, and we are so glad we added this component to our SBSSHOPRI concept.”

Another round of the six business classes will also be starting in September, 2018.