Shopping Rockville on Small Business Saturday

Big name national retailers take the spotlight on Black Friday as their deep price cuts pull in shoppers in droves.

What about those mom-and-pop businesses in and around Rockville that are the backbone of America’s economy? Just when do they get their day?

That’s basically the question that was asked back in 2010 when the concept of Small Business Saturday was born.

Small Business Saturday is “a day to celebrate and support small businesses and all they do for their communities,” the U.S. Small Business Administration explains on its website.

American Express gets the credit for founding the shopping holiday, which got its official start on Nov. 27, 2010, according to the Small Business Saturday Facebook page. Celebrating its third year on Nov. 24, the event drew over 100 million people last year, according to the Small Business Saturday website.

Locally-owned businesses across the country now take part in Small Business Saturday, offering their own deals to rival those offered the day before on Black Friday.

Rockville Economic Development, Inc. and the Rockville Women’s Business Center are encouraging area residents to shop locally and support small businesses this holiday weekend.

“Every dollar spent in a local small business circulates within the community an additional six to eight times,” Laurie Boyer, REDI’s executive director, said in a news release. “[Rockville's] small businesses provide a wealth of products and services to meet business and individual consumer needs. I encourage the residents of Rockville and our surrounding communities to begin their holiday shopping this Saturday right here in Rockville to support neighborhood small businesses.”

Residents can shop locally while supporting local nonprofits, including the Rockville Women’s Business Center.

The women's business center, which is housed at REDI's Town Center offices, is one of the 36 Rockville-area nonprofits selling the “Rockville Rewards” card. The card offers discounts at Rockville-area small businesses, including retail and health and beauty discounts and business-to-business and services. All of the proceeds from the sale of each card support the nonprofit that sold it.

“More than 90 percent of businesses in Montgomery County are small businesses, and the Rockville Rewards card is a great way to support area small businesses,” Lori Gillen, managing director of RWBC, said in the release. “If you purchase your Rockville Rewards card through the RWBC, you also help support RWBC programs and services provided to startups and small businesses.”

Click here for more on Rockville Rewards. For more on RWBC click here and here.

To find retailers in and around Rockville participating in Small Business Saturday, visit the Small Business Saturday website, click on “Find Out Where To Shop” in the menu at the top of the screen and type in your ZIP code.

What are your favorite small businesses in the Rockville area? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.