The Borough of Dunellen celebrates the 2020 holiday season and 11th Annual Small Business Saturday® by Promoting Small Business Saturday an American Express® Neighborhood Champion.

Dunellen, NJ – The Borough of Dunellen announced today that it will join as a member of the American Express® Neighborhood Champion Program. Joining in its first year, the Borough will host a social media campaign as part of Small Business Saturday, which takes place on Nov 28 and all holiday season long. Created by American Express in 2010, Small Business Saturday celebrates the impact small businesses have on communities across the country.

The Borough of Dunellen will use the social media campaign to promote Shop Small Saturday in its central business district. Using the American Express® Small Business Saturday® promotional kit, businesses will be provided marketing material for strorefront windows to remind residents about the importance of shopping local, as well as being provided shop small shopping bags. Inside the shop small shopping bags, each business will be provided information about the Miracle Mile Small Grant program and how to apply for it (link: https://forms.gle/8fzw2S1ED9kV1VN88), as well as two KN-95 masks to use to protect themselves, staff and customers that were generously donated by FLAG – Dunellen.

“It is important that the Borough highlight our businesses in downtown Dunellen and find ways to promote them,” said Mayor Jason Cilento. “This year has been difficult on our businesses and by joining AMEX’s Small Business Saturday, it is one more way we can help highlight our great downtown and its businesses. We hope we can grow this program each year to offer other incentives.”

This year’s celebration is the 11th Annual Small Business Saturday; since it started in 2010, consumers have reported spending an estimated $120 billion across all Small Business Saturdays combined. 1 That’s $120 billion toward helping communities thrive, spent over just ten days alone.

The Dunellen Arts & Culture Commission (DACC) in partnership with the Dunellen Downtown Management Organization (DDMO) will be painting the downtown businesses’ windows with snowy scenes the week prior to Small Business Saturday to add to the celebration. “Part of DACC’s mission is to bring art to the community and part of DDMO’s mission is to beautify the downtown.” said Heidi Heleniak, DACC chair. “This project accomplishes both goals.” Participating businesses will also have their SBS events promoted on the DDMO Facebook page.

According to the 2019 Small Business Saturday Consumer Insights Survey, 97% of consumers who shopped on Small Business Saturday agree that small businesses are essential to their community and 95% reported the day makes them want to shop or eat at small, independently-owned businesses all year long, not just during the holiday season2.

Merchants and consumers can learn more about Shop Small, Small Business Saturday and how to get involved by visiting ShopSmall.com

Shop Small Photo 1 Caption: (L to R): Mayor Jason Cilento, Sharif Kinney owner of Classic Grooming Barber Parlor, and Council Member Stacy Narvesen showing support for Small Business Satruday.

Shop Small Photo 2 Caption: (L to R): Council Member Trina Rios, Gerrick King owner of King Strength and Performance, and Council Member Jessica Dunne post promotional material for Small Business Satruday in downtown Dunellen.