Warwick, RI- Three years ago, the RI Developmental Disabilities Council (RIDDC) created a one-stop, one day pop-up mall called “Small Business Saturday SHOP RI” (SBS Shop RI) in collaboration with the Center for Women & Enterprise (CWE), Veterans Business Outreach Center (VBOC), and RI Small Business Administration (SBA). While American Express launched the Small Business Saturday concept ten years ago, Rhode Island’s launch is celebrating its third year, still unique in its concept and in its diverse minority-based community. Vetted products continue to keep the holiday gift line-up high quality and varied. Word of mouth and grassroots marketing have increased the attendance to more than 2,000 shoppers as of last year. A premier holiday shopping event with more than 100 vendors displayed – plus free parking – makes the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Warwick, a fun-filled family destination on Saturday, November 30, from 9am to 4pm.
The RI Developmental Disabilities Council strongly supports self-employment, as exemplified in its free Business Planning Series, 6 programs launched last year in tandem with the SBS Shop RI vendor sign up. Each two-and one-half-hour session focuses on various facets of business start-up and growth, ranging from preparing an elevator speech to a complete business and marketing plan. Individual counseling follows the course completion, with professionals assigned to address specific areas of need. This RI-based program is also unique to the nationwide celebration of Small Business Saturday.
Sue Babin, operations manager of SBS SHOP RI, and program coordinator of RIDDC notes, “This event is a win-win for business owners from every community represented and for every shopper in RI and MA and beyond. It truly is all inclusive.” The vendors range from artists, Social Venture Enterprises, Farm Fresh RI, veterans, and minority-owned businesses. From jewelry to jams, home-made food and hand-made décor to farm fresh products, the gift options are wide-ranging. Members of the developmental disability community learn how to develop and promote a business, how to access the resources available to them, and have launched several viable businesses during this two-year period.”
“We are excited to see the turnout this year and can’t wait to enhance the program next year.”
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Introduced in 2017, SBS Shop RI is the first event of its kind nationally. Small business owners are now under one roof for the one-day event, creating a very convenient holiday shopping pop-up mall. The vendors range from artists, Social Venture Enterprises, Farm Fresh RI, veterans, and minority-owned businesses and represent a diverse population and a wide range of unique gift ideas.
Members of the RI Developmental Disabilities Council, Veterans Business Outreach Centers, The Center for Women and Enterprise and the Small Business Administration pioneered the effort and continue to provide teaching and one-on-one professional business counseling to support the participants.
For more information about the event visit http://www.sbsshopri.com. To learn more about the RIDDC, visit riddc.org or call 401.737.1238. Offices located at: 400 Bald Hill Road, Suite 515, Warwick, RI 02886.