FedEx Corp. says it is injecting $1 million into the small business economy of the United States with its support of Small Business Saturday 2011. The commitment’s intent is to send tens of thousands of additional consumers into Main Street merchants on Nov. 26, helping to drive holiday sales for local businesses at a time when customer demand remains among their biggest challenges.
As the premier sponsor in the “Shop Small Gift Card” program, FedEx will give away for free 30,000 Shop-Small American Express gift cards, each worth $25, to consumers through a Facebook promotion leading up to Small Business Saturday on Nov. 26; 10,000 additional cards will be distributed directly to FedEx customers. The contribution means more money in the cash registers of locally-owned independent businesses.
“A vibrant small business community is critical to the health of the U.S. economy and the cornerstone of the thousands of cities and towns FedEx serves every day,” says T. Michael Glenn, executive vice president of market development at FedEx. “Through this commitment, FedEx is able to help raise awareness for Small Business Saturday as well as put money directly into the pockets of consumers while reminding them to support their local businesses during the holidays.”
In addition to the gift card giveaway, FedEx Office is serving as the official print sponsor of Small Business Saturday, helping independent retailers and other small businesses grab attention on Small Business Saturday and throughout the holiday season. Small business owners can visit www.facebook.com/shopsmall to access Small Business Saturday posters that can be printed via the FedEx Office Print Online application at a special 20 percent discount. The offer can be utilized on all online print orders through Nov. 26, giving small business owners even more savings as they prepare for the busy holiday season.
