Warwick, RI — In 2026, Small Business Saturday SHOP RI (SBS SHOP RI) is not just celebrating a milestone – it is redefining what Small Business Saturday means in Rhode Island.
Marking its 10th anniversary, SBS SHOP RI 10: A Decade of Small Business Power returns on Saturday, November 28, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Crowne Plaza in Warwick. What began as a mission-driven marketplace has evolved into Rhode Island’s flagship Small Business Saturday experience – and a powerful economic movement.
This is not just another vendor marketplace.
This is the original.
This is the largest.
This is the most inclusive.
This is the most impactful.
With more than 150 curated vendors and an anticipated 3,500+ shoppers, SBS SHOP RI brings together a dynamic cross-section of Rhode Island’s small business economy – all under one roof, for one day, with one shared purpose: to turn shopping into meaningful impact.
“Every purchase made at SBS SHOP RI supports a real business owner and often can change their life financially,” said Sue Babin, SBS SHOP RI Chair and Operations Manager. “For ten years, we’ve built more than an event – we’ve built a platform that empowers entrepreneurs, strengthens communities, and proves the power of shopping small.”
More Than a Market – A Movement
Founded by the Rhode Island Developmental Disabilities Council (RIDDC), SBS SHOP RI was created with a clear purpose: to uplift entrepreneurs with developmental disabilities and create pathways to sustainable self-employment. Today, that mission remains at its core, while expanding to include veteran-owned, minority-owned, women-owned, local family-owned farms, entrepreneurs and other small businesses across Rhode Island.”
Unlike traditional vendor markets, SBS SHOP RI is more than a one-day event. It is a year-round platform designed to help businesses grow and succeed.
In 2026, the event will introduce an enhanced Vendor Marketing Toolkit, providing participants with ready-to-use promotional assets and strategies, building upon the success of last year’s marketing newsletters, to help vendors maximize visibility, attract customers, and strengthen their brand before, during, and after the event. In addition, SBS SHOP RI will be providing our vendors with additional resources and marketing support from Amercian Express, the proud founder of Small Business Saturday, to help grow their small businesses.
What Sets SBS SHOP RI Apart
- Purpose-Driven: Founded to create real economic opportunity for entrepreneurs with developmental disabilities
- Unmatched Scale: 150+ vendors and 3,500+ shoppers in a single, high-energy day
- Exclusive Experience: A one-of-a-kind, statewide “pop-up mall” you can’t find anywhere else
- Real Impact: Supporting established and emerging small businesses – not hobbies, but livelihoods
- Built-In Growth Platform: Vendor training, technical assistance, marketing support, and ongoing networking opportunities
- Unique:The ONLY state in the country to utilize resources and support from American Express to design RI’s Small Business Saturday to be an inclusive and diverse event showcasing entrepreneurs with disabilities, veterans, women and minority owned businesses, and other local small businesses.
A Rhode Island Tradition – With Growing Impact
In 2025, SBS SHOP RI welcomed 3,500 shoppers, reinforcing its position as the state’s premier Small Business Saturday destination. As the national “Shop Small” movement continues to grow, SBS SHOP RI stands apart as a model for inclusive economic development, where commerce meets community, and every transaction contributes to something bigger.
The event remains free and open to the public, with no admission fee and free parking, making it accessible to families and shoppers from across the region.
For more information, visit www.sbsshopri.com
About Small Business Saturday SHOP RI
Small Business Saturday Shop RI is Rhode Island’s original and largest Small Business Saturday event, created by the Rhode Island Developmental Disabilities Council. Over the past decade, it has grown into a powerful platform supporting small businesses and entrepreneurs of all backgrounds. In Rhode Island, small businesses represent 98%of all registered businesses and employ 57% of the workforce, making initiatives like SBSSHOPRI critical to the state’s economic vitality.
