COMMUNITIES OFFER SPECIALS FOR SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY
It may be called Small Business Saturday, but it’s a big deal to local independent merchants. And this year’s Saturday-afterThanksgiving event is especially important, because small businesses have been hit particularly hard by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Small Business Saturday promotion, begun in 2010, reminds communities not to forget the unique offerings from the independent businesses often owned and operated by their neighbors. Besides encouraging people to shop locally on this day (and beyond), chambers of commerce and business districts have come up with special promotions to attract shoppers. Here are a few:
CARLSBAD
The Carlsbad Village Association is hosting an interactive Treasure Hunt game that gives shoppers the opportunity to experience downtown Carlsbad and get to know the Village businesses, history, and iconic places a little bit better. The game will run through Sunday. Players will use their wits and knowledge to explore and discover downtown Carlsbad, including historical sites, local art, and shopping and dining locations, for chances to win prizes. Download the game and check out the rules at carlsbad-village.com/hunt.
DEL MAR
Celebrate Small Business Saturday and kick off holiday shopping with Del Mar Village Dollars. Processing fees on gift card purchases will be waived and purchasers will get bonus dollars on certain denominations ($40, $75 and $120) for a limited time. Gift cards can be redeemed at any of the 30-plus participating Del Mar Village restaurants, retailers and service providers. Visit visitdelmarvillage.com. The city is also offering free downtown parking on weekends throughout the holiday season. Also, snap a photo at your favorite store or a selfie with your shopping companions and share it on Instagram. Tag @visitdelmarvillage in the post and tag the store’s location for your chance to win a ticket to Summer Solstice 2021.
ENCINITAS
Cardiff 101, Encinitas 101, Leucadia 101 MainStreet and the Chamber of Commerce have teamed up to promote and support small businesses in their communities. There will be local specials, pop-up shops, acoustic live music and limited edition prints by Skye Walker, Danielle Black Lyons, Traci Sally and Peggy Sue Florio Zepeda that will be gifted to shoppers who buy at certain businesses on Small Business Saturday: Leucadia will be displaying window decals done by local artist Nikki Hess to show who will be participating in all the festivities that day. Cardiff will be promoting a bingo card shopping game to put a fun twist on supporting local businesses. Downtown Encinitas will be hosting musicians along historic Highway 101 to liven up the shopping weekend. The Chamber of Commerce will be giving away gift cards to local businesses leading up to the event via its Instagram account. Stay up to date on participating businesses and events at cardiff101.com, encinitas101.com, leucadia101.com and encinitaschamber.com. Follow them on Instagram for savings and more.
ESCONDIDO
Merchants may be offering discounts, bonuses, free shipping or special treats. An online gift guide to highlight specific gift opportunities from participating merchants will have links to shopping. Shoppers also can win prizes by exploring the neighborhood and collecting stamps in their Escondido Small Business Saturday passport when they make a purchase. Shoppers can pick up a passport at any location and also drop off their stamped passport at any location. For details, follow your favorite stores on social media and newsletters; more information is planned at visitescondido.com.
FALLBROOK
The Holiday Treasure Hunt started Monday but is part of the Small Business Saturday celebrations. It runs through Dec. 24. Pick up your book of clues at the Chamber of Commerce office, 111 S. Main Ave., then visit participating businesses and follow the clues to find the “treasure.” Return your book to the chamber office to be entered to win a special prize package. Also on Small Business Saturday, free shopping bags will be handed out, and the Farmers Market will be in full swing from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 102 S. Main Ave. The chamber is also hosting the
Happy Holiday Wine Trail starting today through New Year’s. Cost is $20, which includes a lanyard and badge, a souvenir wine glass and your passport. Visit the wineries on your own and pay only $5 for three tastings at each location. Sign up for the Wine Trail at the chamber office. Call (760) 7285845 or email Jackie.Toppin@FallbrookChamberofCommerce.org.
LAKESIDE
The Lakeside Chamber of Commerce is promoting local shopping with its “Keep the Cheer Here” campaign. The promotion goes to the end of the year. For a list of businesses that are participating and offering deals/coupons, visit lakesidechamber.org/Shop-Lakeside-First.
LA MESA
The La Mesa Village Association is in the middle of its “Dine, Shop & Explore” promotion for its small businesses in the downtown Village district. Stroll La Mesa Boulevard and check out specials in the various retail shops and salons. For a list of businesses, visit lamesavillageassociation.org. Some special deals: Act II Boutique: Buy a $50 gift card for $40; Johnny B’s Burgers, Brew & Spirits: Get a free $25 gift card with every $100 of gift cards purchased; Mattress Makers: Now through Dec. 5, get up to $700 off Entire Sleep System, plus choice of two free pillows, free Malouf mattress protector or free delivery; Therapie Day Spa: 20 percent off all products (including gift certificates), with curbside pickup available. Small Batch: 40 percent off a variety of items this weekend; Thoughtful Creations: up to 50 percent off on Black Friday.
OCEANSIDE
The Chamber of Commerce’s Shop Local Oceanside program is in full swing through Dec. 10. Download a local coupon book at shoplocaloceanside.com. The chamber also bought gift cards from 29 businesses in Oceanside and put together 41 prize packs ranging from $150 to $250. Shoppers enter a drawing through daily social media contests on Facebook and Instagram. For Small Business Saturday, five different prize packs that include cards for 12 different small businesses will be given away. A like, a share, a comment and a tag will enter you into the drawing. You can combine those for four total entries, but only one like, one share, one comment and one tag per person. Winners are announced at 8 a.m. daily before each new contest begins. The chamber will contact you if you win. Visit facebook.com/OceansideChamber or instagram.com/oceansidechamber to play. Call (760) 722-1534.
SAN DIEGO
Little Italy: Locally owned businesses, including Burger Lounge, Cafe Gratitude, Caffe Italia and Extraordinary Desserts, will be offering in-store specials and discounts for shoppers, including longer business hours. Some will also be offering online specials, so check them out there as well as on social media. North Park: Shoppers will get a chance to score prizes when they shop from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday on Ray Street (purchases must be made that day and at a North Park business). Parking will be available all day for $1 at the North Park Parking Garage on 29th Street. Ocean Beach:
Spend $50 or more in Ocean Beach on Saturday and enter to receive an eclectic OB Gift Basket filled with local items, services and gift cards. Stop by the Ocean Beach MainStreet Association’s storefront at 1868 Bacon St., #A, San Diego, between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Saturday to enter the drawing. Drawing details and general information will be available at the OBMA storefront. Call (619) 224-4906.
VALLEY CENTER
A Small Business Saturday Open Aire Market will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at Old Town Centre, 29115 Valley Center Road. All local artisans are welcome. Items sold must be made by an artisan. Masks will be required by all during the event. Space is limited; first come, first served. No booth fee; $30 refundable deposit to reserve space. Vendors can contact CJ Gift Shoppe at info@cjgiftshoppe.com for details and to sign up.
VISTA
The Vista GooseChase treasure hunt will offer players double points on Saturday to encourage store traffic. The Vista GooseChase is a mobile app-based game that leads players throughout Vista to earn points for prizes, gifts and entry into several other drawings. Several businesses will announce surprise giveaways that day through the app. Visit vistagoosechase.com. Also, the Vista Staples store will launch the sale of physical Vista Bucks Gift Cards on Saturday. This will be a gift card similar to those sold in retail stores, but redeemable at dozens of Vista restaurants, breweries, shops and other services. All of the card value goes directly to the Vista business that redeems it. Vista is one of 10 cities piloting the gift card program nationwide. Digital versions of Vista Bucks are on sale for $20 and come with a free $5 bonus card. Visit vistabuckscard.com.