For years, Black Friday and Cyber Monday have stood as the most iconic shopping days of the year. Occasions when retailers give customers the opportunity to save before Christmas, several individuals across the country flock to stores and to sites for bargains.

This stretch is known for providing shoppers with specials, and since 2010, it's also included a day for a different community of companies – Small Business Saturday.

“Really, Small Business Saturday is our Black Friday,” said Tami England, owner of the stores Touché and Over the Moon. “I think it’s an event that has heart.”

England’s locations have been celebrating Small Business Saturday since each of their grand openings, along with several other brick-and-mortar operations neighboring hers on Bountiful Main Street. She began her career as an entrepreneur with her first store Touché: a lifestyle boutique. After being prompted to open a retail store with products for babies, she opened Over the Moon just over a year later.

Each Small Business Saturday, England sets up a free hot chocolate stand in front of her stores. Inside, customers have access to a wide range of deals, and those who purchase receive a free gift. 

“There’s just always some kind of a special deal,” said England. “We love our customers and our customers come in to show their appreciation for us, and it’s just kind of a win-win for everybody.”

According to England, the shopping event is one of her store’s best selling days of the year. Other businesses on Bountiful Main Street have experienced an uptick in sales on Small Business Saturday as well – including musical instruments shop Murphy’s Guitars. 

“It’s something that really does mean a lot to small businesses like us,” said Aaron Jorgensen, owner of Murphy’s Guitars. “It’s usually our best day of the entire year. It really helps us, you know, get in the kind of fun products that we like to have in stock, and that, in turn, brings people in because they want to check out all the new guitars.”

After taking guitar classes at Viewmont High School from the store’s previous owner and retired teacher Mike Murphy, Jorgensen joined the store during his first semester at the University of Utah. There, he earned a degree in entrepreneurship and has since bought the business. 

Jorgensen not only oversees the daily operations of the company, but is the president of the Bountiful Main Street Merchants Association – an organization that meets monthly to find ways to better the area.

Though Jorgensen has not announced the store’s discounts for Small Business Saturday, he has said that they will be made public on social media. 

Along with Small Business Saturday, shops such as Touché, Over the Moon and Murphy’s Guitars will celebrate another shopping event: Bountiful Main Street’s open house.

“On that night, it’s just a time to welcome customers and showcase what we have for the holidays,” said England. 

Notable locations in the area will offer discounts that day. Both Over the Moon and Touché will also feature refreshments and coupons. 

Originally founded by the bank holding company American Express, Small Business Saturday has been a part of the holiday shopping weekend for 15 years. It occurs annually the day after Black Friday, and will be celebrated this year on Nov. 30 on Bountiful Main Street, as well as for other companies across the country.

“Participating in Small Business Saturday means not only do the shops that you love continue to stay there for as long as they possibly can, you know, hopefully forever,” said Jorgensen. “It also means that people might see this spot on Main Street and say ‘you know what would work right there? An awesome little shop or an idea that I’ve had before. It means a lot to a company’s entire year – having a big day like Small Business Saturday.” λ