Shop Locally in the South End on Small Business Saturday on Nov. 24

Small Business Saturday is on Nov. 24 this year, two days after Thanksgiving. It is a day for everyone to support the small businesses that their community thrives on.

American Express founded the day in 2010 to help small businesses get exposure during the holiday season, when they might be otherwise overlooked. With retailers buzzing around the holidays, it is important to support local small businesses that rely on their neighbors in order to continue prospering and building the local economy in the South End. 

"Small Business Saturday is a great opportunity to support your local economy while buying unique gifts for your loved ones this holiday season," said Jennifer Effron, director of Washington Gateway Main Street. "The money you spend at small businesses gets infused right back into the neighborhoods in which they exist. This season support the small businesses in the South End that help make our community vibrant, creative and special."

Last year, 100 million people nationwide participated in Small Business Saturday by shopping at locally owned stores to help boost the economy and their communities.

Nicole Vale, owner of Coco Baby on Washingon Street in the South End, said small business owners labor daily to make their shops beautiful, which helps keep the streets beautiful and the neighborhood thriving.

"We hire people who live in the neighborhood, pay taxes that benefit the streets and schools in our direct neighborhoods, and make donations to every single local charity and school and arts program and neighborhood association who asks," she said. "And we do all this from our hearts, not our pocket books! So we hope that the neighborhood thinks local when giving gifts this season."

Many places in the South End are offering special deals for Small business Saturday. You can check out these participating businesses to shop locally on Saturday:

• El Centro
• J.E.M.
• London Lace
• Table & Tulip
• Abraham Pham
• Don Quijote Market
• Flour Bakery
• Coco Baby
• Toro
• Equator
• Olives and Grace
• South End Athletic Company

And many more that you can find using this map tool. 

You can also “like” Small Business Saturday on Facebook by visiting www.facebook.com/shopsmall.

Everyone has locally owned businesses in their community, and shopping on Small Business Saturday is the perfect way to give back to the businesses you know and love in your community.

TELL US: What small businesses do you patronize in the South End and what makes them great? Share in the comments below.