In the spirit of the holidays—holiday shopping to be precise—Yolanda Garcia Olivarez, U.S. Small Business Administration regional administrator, wants to encourage Plano residents to purchase their gifts from small businesses in town.

Small Business Saturday is a nationwide initiative of the Small Business Administration that takes place on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, Nov. 28, to promote small business owners.

“We are trying to encourage people across the United States to shop small and dine small,” Olivarez said. “We are just trying to visit as many stores as we can and encourage people to do what I am doing today.”

about 88 million people shopped at their local small businesses in 2014, according to the American Express Small Business Saturday initiative.  American Express started Small Business Saturday in 2010. By 2011, this initiative was recognized by President Obama and the U.S. government. In 2012, about $5.5 billion were spent at local small businesses across the country.

This year, Olivarez visited Marketplace Boutiques at 8300 Preston Road, Ste. 150, in Plano to talk to owner Julie Smith. Smith leases her store space to small business owners who might be starting out, expanding or surveying a new market.

About eight people work at Marketplace Boutiques helping customers pick out items at different vendor spaces. Each merchandise owner has his or her account so when customers purchase an item from different vendors it rings up under each business’ name. Smith uses this to keep track of inventory and sales.

“My staff keeps their spaces tidy and fresh after a customer shops,” Smith said. “Individual merchandise owners come in weekly, and restock and freshen the whole look."

Jamee Jolly, Plano Chamber of Commerce president and CEO, said Plano residents can take the time on Nov. 28 to shop in their own city's shops rather than ordering online.

"Small businesses that operate in our Plano community are owned and operated by local individuals and families. When you spend money with these businesses, you are supporting a local family," Jolly said. "These business create jobs in our community and that helps to support even more local families. It is a domino effect."

Corner Wines owner Jim McDevitt said his Plano shop has participated in Small Business Saturday since 2010 by giving special discounts to customers. McDevitt said he sends out a notice to all customers on his mailing list informing them about the Saturday after Thanksgiving as a reminder to shop local.

"In my youth we had small corner stores that we would shop at and they would do well," he said.

McDevitt's competition has increased with the development of franchises and chain wine and liquor stores over the past 10 years, he said. But initiatives like Small Business Saturday helps bring more people into the store.

Like McDevitt, small businesses in the country have reached out to potential customers via emails, social media and physical flyers. Planning in-house events, special discounts and decorated the store space are some of the ways in which local businesses can promote Small Business Saturday, according to American Express Small Business Saturday suggestions.