There’s a “big” day coming up for small businesses in Ocean Beach: Small Business Saturday on Nov. 25.
And the beach community is all in on the merchant holiday two days after Thanksgiving.
Ocean Beach MainStreet Association (OBMA) is celebrating Small Business Saturday with a Passport to OB contest to encourage the community to shop local this holiday.
The almost month-long contest kicks off on Small Business Saturday itself with shopping, fun giveaways and a giant sand sculpture on the beach. Attendees are encouraged to stop by the grassy area at Abbott and Newport from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. to receive free shopping bags and other goodies before snapping a picture with the sand sculpture. Designed by Imperial Beach sand artist Leonard Gonzales, his sculpture will celebrate OB and shop small.
First observed in the United States in 2010, Small Business Saturday is a counterpart to Black Friday and Cyber Monday. The merchant event encourages holiday shoppers to patronize brick-and-mortar businesses that are small and local.
“It’s wonderful to have a day that focuses on small businesses, because they’re the ones that benefit the most from people spending their dollars in their business,” said Isabel Clark, OBMA programs director. “And that is what our association is all about. It’s a great vehicle to increase awareness about small businesses, and gives them an opportunity to give customers a chance to learn more about new and existing businesses.”
Clark said the centerpiece of OBMA’s Small Business Saturday campaign this year is the Shop Small OB Passport, wherein customers will get a card with the names of 26 participating merchants and their businesses on it that they can get punched for a chance at a future drawing.
“The more businesses you visit and get your card punched at, the better your odds are for winning a prize,” said Clark, adding the Passport program runs until Dec. 20.
“Then people turn in their cards and the drawing is held,” Clark said. “Participating businesses will have gift cards and other really cool things you can win.”
Passport participants include: Abbott Street Market, Apple Tree Supermarket, Arizona Cafe, Beach Sweets, Bone Appetit, Car’s Jars, Crystal Visions, Details SalonSpa, James Gang Printing Company, Lighthouse Ice Cream, OB People’s Organic Food Market, Ocean Beach Business Center, Pat’s Liquor, Pirate’s Cove Tiki Port, Raglan Public House, Reset Float Therapy, Shot From The Hart Photography, South Coast Surf Shop, South Coast Wahines, Sunset Clipps, Swanky Sugar, Synergy, Thistle Garden Floral Home, Tony’s, Sunshine Co. Saloon and Ocean Beach MainStreet Association.
Denny Knox, OBMA executive director, said Small Business Saturday is a great showcase.
“Ocean Beach has so many great local shops and restaurants,” she said. “We’re really excited to create exposure for the variety of retail, dining and services offered in our community to entice people to come to OB to shop small.”
“This is the first year we’ve done this on this scale, really doing a big push,” said Clark, adding, “Hopefully, it will become an annual thing, and we can expand it next year.”
Founded in 1978, the Ocean Beach MainStreet Association is comprised of area merchants and professionals dedicated to building a thriving business district that fulfills the needs of the neighboring community and visitors alike. Learn more at OceanBeachSanDiego.com or shoplocalob.com.