After a strange and difficult year, Jefferson City's Small Business Saturday will be open to all small businesses without the usual financial contribution.
Small Business Saturday - a nationwide event held the Saturday after Thanksgiving each year - typically requires participating businesses in Jefferson City to contribute to the fund that pays for gift certificates and advertising for the event.
This year, the Jefferson City Area Chamber of Commerce and East Side and West Side business associations are sponsoring more than $900 to pay for the gift certificates awarded to shoppers who sign up at participating businesses and advertising.
Donna Deetz, a small-business owner involved in planning Small Business Saturday, said typically around 30 businesses participate each year, contributing about $50 each. This year, the chamber and business associations wanted to open it up so more small businesses would participate.
"This year, because everybody is so hard-pressed - all the small businesses are barely keeping their heads above water - the chamber decided a good way to support the small businesses in Jefferson City is to put that money up front for us," Deetz said.
The hope is to drive business to local, small businesses, which need support due to the pandemic.
"This is just a way for us to help all of those businesses to get something out of it and get recognized, and encourage people to shop at those little bitty businesses that are kind of struggling right now," Deetz said.
She said there likely will be businesses other than retail, such as some local restaurants. Businesses that participate will be listed on the Small Business Saturday - Jeff City MO and Chamber of Commerce Facebook pages.
"We're shooting for all small businesses, just trying to help anybody who needs the help right now," Deetz said.
Businesses can place the drawing boxes at their business on Small Business Saturday, and customers will be able to enter a drawing for gift certificates that can be used at any participating business before the end of the year. Drawings for gift certificates will take place Dec. 2.
Deetz said they are encouraging participating businesses to use the drawing boxes to hold their own promotional drawings.
For example, Carrie's Hallmark Shop will be giving away a Kansas City Chiefs ornament and Kay's Collectibles/Click2Sell4U will be drawing for a framed Thomas Kincaid print.
To participate, small businesses need to sign up at the Chamber of Commerce office, 213 Adams St., or Click2Sell4U, 620 E. High St., during the week of Nov. 9-14 to pick up their drawing box and instructions.