The Chicago Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP) emphasizes the positive impact of shopping locally during the holiday season, supported by city programs and events designed to connect residents with local businesses. Small businesses are the heart of communities and by choosing to shop locally, residents and visitors can contribute to a thriving business landscape that directly benefits Chicago’s communities. The holiday shopping season unofficially kicks-off during Thanksgiving weekend with dedicated days like Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday and Giving Tuesday. This year, Small Business Saturday will be Saturday, November 30th, with small businesses offering a variety of exciting options to holiday shoppers. To support and celebrate the Chicago’s small business community, BACP upcoming efforts include:

• Highlighting the Shop Local Chicago campaign: The BACP Shop Local Chicago campaign highlights the important role small businesses play in Chicago’s neighborhoods. The benefits of shopping local including the shopping experience, workforce contribution and local economy boost. Learn more about the ongoing campaign by visiting Chicago.gov/ShopLocal. 

• Hosting webinars: On Monday, November 18 at 2:00 p.m., BACP will host a free webinar, “Holiday Success Strategies: Attracting Customers and Boosting Sales.” On Thursday, December 5 at 10:00 a.m., BACP will host a free webinar, “’Tis the Season to be Cautious.” To register for the webinars, visit Chicago.gov/BACPwebinars. Also, BACP hosted, “Crafting a Winning Holiday Marketing Campaign Strategy,” webinar that is available at YouTube.com/ChicagoBACP.

For more information on BACP’s programs and services, visit Chicago.gov/BACP.