Small Business Saturday in the CBD

While the U.S. S.B.A defines “small business” to include companies with as many as 1,500 employees, most of us think of small businesses as the main street “mom & pop” shops. It is exactly these local retail businesses that American Express had in mind when they launched “Small Business Saturday.”

In an effort to help local businesses competing with big companies and “Black Friday”, Small Business Saturday is now an annual event held on the first Saturday following Thanksgiving.

So let’s take a stroll through downtown Miami today, and get some shopping done!

First stop, Animal Crackers – a cute little shop on NE 2nd Street with toys, treats and bling for the pampered pets. (They provide grooming services, too.)

Then over to Miami’s original shopping district: historic Flagler Street and Neushop Miami in the Ingraham Building. Neushop’s  Instagram tagline says, “The ordinary made extraordinary by expressing it in its most fundamental form”. That is a great description of the clothing and accessories found in this shop. I suspect I have found a new favorite place.

Next, a bit of jewelry shopping (and dreaming) at the array of jewelers in the neighborhood. Downtown Miami and the Seybold Building was once known worldwide for its jewelry and findings, and it still has one of the best concentrations of jewelry stores anywhere in Miami.

After a delicious pick-me-up with a cold pressed juice at Jar+Fork, it’s on to the clothing and perfume and electronic shops that line the streets of the Central Business District, oh my!

A quick stop at Chandi Wines & Spirits to buy a nice bottle of Scotch for a friend before finally treating myself to Chicken Champignons (my favorite!) at Butterfly Ball Mediterranean and French Restaurant on #Avenue3.

What did you do for Small Business Saturday. Share your #ShopSmall adventure in the comments below!