Retailers value remaining shopping days (The Oklahoman) »

Black Friday has wrapped, but there are several more days of themed shopping ahead.

Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday and Giving Tuesday all offer consumers additional chances to shop discounted deals, support charities and nonprofits, or both. Saturday kicks it off as many local retailers seek to gain a share of the profits seen by so many larger companies during this time of year.

“The impact is enormous,” Green Bambino owner Morgan Harris said. “If people can shift some of their spending to local business, it makes a big difference.”

Small Business Saturday was launched in 2010, sponsored by American Express. The purpose being as the name suggests, a dedicated day to shop local.

Harris chose to close her baby boutique store at 5120 N Shartel for Thanksgiving Day and Black Friday in order to give employees time with family, not compete with large retailers on Black Friday and to focus on the Small Business Saturday portion of the shopping week. The store will be open and running specials Saturday, Sunday and Monday, offering price-matching services, Harris said.

In the Plaza District, Google is hosting an event highlighting the local businesses within the district. From noon to 3 p.m. attendees of the Google #SmallThanks party can enjoy samples from local restaurants and food trucks, photo booths, raffles and more.

“We are so excited to host Google in the Plaza,” Plaza District Association and Plaza Business Alliance Executive Director Selena Skorman said in a statement. “We have close to 50 small businesses in our district and they deserve to be celebrated.”

Black Friday is the top revenue day of the year according to a study by the technology company, Womply. Average daily revenue for retailers in Oklahoma is $965, according to the study, but the average jumps to $2,022 that day.

Small Business Saturday spending drops dramatically in comparison, but it still has an above-average revenue per store at $1,209.

Cyber Monday is a marketing effort encouraging online shopping and it traces its roots to 2005. The average revenues amount regresses further toward the mean on Cyber Monday, when stores’ average revenues are $1,013, according to the study.

Giving Tuesday is another financially impactful day, though not as commercially focused. Beginning in 2012, the day is marketed as a time to give to charities and nonprofits. Oklahomans can choose to donate to their preferred charity or nonprofit directly, but some retailers are also offering deals to promote sales and charitable giving.

The board game store PB&J Games at 1201 NW 178 is hosting a toy drive for kids, offering a discount if a consumer would like to purchase a game to give to The Children’s Hospital at OU Medical Center.

“Starting Tuesday we will give people 40 percent off on a game if they want to donate it to the Children’s Hospital,” PB&J Games owner Parker Banks said. “Last year we were really pleased with how it went and this year we are hoping it goes well again.”