Image courtesy of the Bixby Knolls Small Business Saturday Facebook event page.
If you can make it through the flurry that is Black Friday, you may just have the chance to enjoy the city’s offer of free metered street parking in downtown Long Beach, Belmont Shore (Second Street) and The Pike Outlets for Small Business Saturday, not to mention other small biz bargains in Bixby Knolls.
That’s right, you heard it. Not since the metered holiday last summer, after the power outages, has the city been this kind—with a not-so-subtle push for consumers to seize the holiday and drop some dough at small businesses locations throughout the city.
“Long Beach is home to so many wonderful small businesses, thanks to its thriving entrepreneurial spirit,” said Mayor Robert Garcia in a statement this week. “Small businesses provide superior products and services, and Small Business Saturday is a wonderful opportunity to support them and enhance the Long Beach economy.”
American Express launched Small Business Saturday in 2010 as a counterpoint to Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Last year, according to the city, 88 million people spent $14.3 billion on independent small businesses.
This year’s downtown parking meter holiday is meant to pour some money back into Long Beach and complement the Downtown Long Beach Associates’ (DLBA) campaign to promote small Long Beach businesses.
“Essentially, it’s about entrepreneurial creativity and quality to deliver a unique experience to their customers,” said DLBA President and CEO Kraig Kojian in a statement last week.
The DLBA will be supporting a “Makers Mart” on First Street that will include food, entertainment and local artisans selling goods. It will also be distributing a DTLB holiday gift guide that includes more than 75 local businesses’ suggested gift items.
Similar festivities are planned in Bixby Knolls, where live music will play from 1:00PM to 4:00PM districtwide, and shoppers can capitalize on sales at CloverLongBeach, Lucy’s Boudoir and even earn a shot at a free Apple Watch from Red Eye Media. Twig and Willow (both locations) E.J. Malloy’s, Long Beach Creamery and others will offer 15 percent or more discounts.
Belmont Shore’s offering its own set of deals, with Blue Windows holding a 15 percent off sale on all items; Salud Juice is offering 10 percent discounts on all gift cards sold Black Friday through Cyber Monday; Papyrus is offering 50 percent off holiday pre-wrapped gifts, buy one get 50 percent off for boxed holiday cards, and buy one get one 50 percent off for everything holiday, including wrapping; Cupcakes at Frosted Cupcakery will be buy one get one free; dozens of beauty deals will occur at Second Street Beauty Boutique and more.