The Saturday after Thanksgiving is widely celebrated as Small Business Saturday, a day to support independent shops, cafés and makers in your community. It is a chance for local businesses to stand out from the big chains of Black Friday. This 11 x 17 inch poster celebrates the high street with three illustrated shopfronts, a warm script headline and reasons to shop local.
Small Business Saturday Poster Design
The poster is 11 x 17 inches, portrait, on a warm kraft paper background. At the top, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2026 runs across in navy spaced capitals.
Below, three shopfronts stand side by side, each drawn from simple shapes. Each has a pale facade, a striped awning in rust, green or navy, a white sign reading BAKERY, BOOKS or GIFTS, a large window and a navy door with a small gold handle. A navy line under the shops forms the pavement.
Shop Local is written large in rust Pacifico script, followed by SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY in navy Anton capitals and a small ornamental divider. Three reasons follow, each with a small red heart: keeps money in our community, supports local jobs and makers, and gifts with a real story. An italic line invites people to visit the independent shops on Market Street, and the logo mark sits at the bottom.
Who This Poster Is For
- independent shops promoting their own Saturday events;
- business associations and main street programs promoting a whole street;
- chambers of commerce and town councils supporting local trade;
- markets and craft fairs held on the Saturday;
- cafés, bookshops and galleries joining a shop local trail.
Editing the Shopfronts
Each shopfront is a group. Double-click into a shop to change its sign, such as FLORIST, CAFE, TOYS or BARBER, and recolour its awning and facade. Matching the signs to real shops on your street makes the poster feel truly local. You can also delete a shop and spread the other two apart, or copy one to make four.
Writing Your Reasons to Shop Local
The three reasons are short and friendly. You can replace them with your own:
| Reason | Message |
|---|---|
| Community | Keeps money in our community |
| Jobs | Supports local jobs and makers |
| Character | Keeps our high street unique |
| Service | Friendly advice from people who know you |
| Sustainability | Fewer deliveries, less packaging |
| Gifts | Gifts with a real story |
Planning a Small Business Saturday Event
- Coordinate with neighbouring businesses on a shared theme or trail.
- Offer small extras, such as free coffee, gift wrapping or a raffle.
- Create a map of participating shops for visitors.
- Promote the day on social media with the same poster design.
- Thank customers on the day and afterwards.
A Note on Names
Small Business Saturday was started by a credit card company in 2010 and has since become widely recognised. Phrases connected with the day are used by many communities, but some are associated with that company’s campaign materials. This poster uses its own artwork and the plain phrase Shop Local, and you can adapt the wording to suit your community’s own campaign.
Printing the Poster
Download the PDF and print at 11 x 17 inches. The kraft colour looks especially warm on uncoated paper. For windows, print a copy for each participating shop. Smaller Letter size versions make good flyers to hand out on the street.
Changing the Poster Colours
Kraft, navy, rust and green give a friendly, traditional high street feel. For a more modern look, try white with bright awnings in coral, teal and yellow. For a Christmas mood, use deep green and red. Keep the headline in the strongest colour so it is readable from a distance.
Shop Local Posts for Social Media
Download a PNG and crop it to a square for Instagram, keeping the shopfronts and headline. Ask participating businesses to share the same image, so the whole street’s campaign looks unified online. Use a shared hashtag for your town or street.
Supporting Local All Year
The poster’s message is useful beyond one Saturday. Change the date line to Every Saturday or This holiday season, and keep it in your window as a reminder that shopping local makes a difference all year.
Measuring Small Business Saturday
Count visitors or sales compared with an ordinary Saturday, and ask customers how they heard about the event. Sharing results with neighbouring shops helps everyone plan a better event next year.
Creating a Shop Local Trail
A trail encourages shoppers to visit several businesses in one day. Print a small card listing participating shops with a space for a stamp at each one. Customers who collect a set number of stamps can enter a prize draw or receive a small gift. The poster announces the day, and the trail keeps people moving from shop to shop.
Featuring Local Makers
Small Business Saturday is a great day to spotlight local makers. Invite a potter, jeweller, or baker to set up a table in your shop, or feature their products in your window. Mention them on social media so their followers come to visit too. Collaborations make the day feel like a celebration of the whole community.
Thanking Customers After the Day
On Sunday, post a thank you message with a photo of your busy shop or happy customers (with permission). A simple thank you for shopping local reminds people why their choice mattered and encourages them to come back during the holidays.
Where to Hang the Poster
Ask libraries, cafés, schools and community centres to display the poster in the week before, so people plan their Saturday visit.
Small Business Saturday Poster Questions
Can I add my logo?
Replace the logo mark area or add your logo above the date line.
Can I list participating shops?
Add a second page or a small list under the reasons, or print a separate map.
Can I use it for a craft fair?
Yes. Change the shop signs to stall types and the location line to your venue.
Local businesses make a neighbourhood feel like home. Add your shops, set the date, and invite your community to shop local this Small Business Saturday.
