Black Friday is known for drawing crowds of eager shoppers to big-box stores, but smaller shops have Small Business Saturday to promote the idea of supporting local retailers and keeping holiday spending in the community. Small Business Saturday takes place the Saturday after Thanksgiving and was started by American Express in 2010 to draw attention to small and family-owned businesses on the busiest shopping weekend of the year, said Small Business Saturday spokeswoman Nicole Reyhle. Last year, the event generated $16.2 billion dollars in retail sales nationwide, up from $14.3 billion in 2015, she said. Businesses that participate in Small Business Saturday on Nov. 26 can receive promotional materials from American Express. Businesses do not have to accept American Express credit cards to use the posters, signs and other promotional items. Businesses are also using several social media hashtags for the event, including #shopsmall. On its Facebook page, the shopping village of Old Town Spring encourages customers to use the #shopsmall hashtag, reference businesses they support that day, and to take a selfie and post it on social media. The Old Town Spring Facebook page offers frequent updates on events and promotions within the village. Many Vintage Park shops will observe the holiday with specials and sidewalk displays, said Blu Ivory owner Jerilyn Schultz. The shop, located at 138 Vintage Park Blvd., Ste. H, sells home decor and fragrance items such as candles and soaps, as well as Christmas decorations and ornaments during the holiday season. Lizzy G’s Gifts, 126 Vintage Park Blvd, Houston, features discounts of 30 to 40 percent off of select brands of jewelry and pillowcases as well as additional sales throughout the day. Owner Liz Tillman said Small Business Saturday has become more successful each year in the five years she has been in business. “We see more people getting behind this than Black Friday,” Tillman said. Stores outside of the area’s main shopping districts in the area also feature discounts on the day. Haute Boutique, a clothing and accessory store located at 6915 Cypresswood Drive, Spring, will offer customers a 30% discount off of a single item. Another independent clothing store, Scruples, located 5446 FM 1960 W., Houston, offers double points on purchases made with an American Express card. The store also offers a buy two, get one half-off promotion on Black Friday. Creative Framing & Mirror, 7135 Louetta Road, Ste. B, will offer $100 gift cards for its Merlot 2 Masterpiece painting parties for $50, and 40% off any custom framing purchase of $100 of more throughout the weekend. Find local business participating in Small Business Saturday on the American Express Small Business Saturday website.