By Amanda Raymond
amanda.raymond@salisburypost.com

SALISBURY — While recovering from Black Friday and gearing up for Cyber Monday, don’t forget to visit locally-owned businesses all over the county that are offering specials and discounts for Small Business Saturday.

According to the Small Business Association, Small Business Saturday is a special day to “celebrate and support small businesses and all they do for their communities,” including offering unique, specialized, handmade or antique items.

American Express started the nationally recognized day in 2010.

The Small Business Association said that $68 of every $100 spent at local businesses stays in the city or town. Only $43 stays in the city or town when $100 is spent at national chains.

More than $16 billion was spent at small businesses during 2015’s Small Business Saturday, according to the association.

This Saturday, Nov. 26, Downtown Salisbury Inc. will be hosting “Double Your Dollars in Downtown.” When you spend $50 or more in any downtown store or combination of stores, you can be entered to win $100 Downtown Dollars.

Take a photo of all your receipts showing the date and total amount sold and email the picture to info@downtownsalisburync.com. Be sure to include all contact information.

Receipts must be presented by Friday, Dec. 2. The drawing will take place on Monday, Dec. 5.

That same morning, Santa Claus and the Grinch will be hanging out at the Bell Tower at the corner of South Jackson and West Innes streets. Families will be able to get their pictures taken and enjoy hot cocoa and snacks from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., all for free.

Other specials in shops around the county include:

• Encore on Main at 118 S. Main St. in China Grove is offering 25 percent off everything in the store and double stamps on frequent shopper cards.
• Old Town Soap Co., at 113 S. Main St. in China Grove, will be offering double stamps for its membership program members and 10 percent off all purchases for all customers. Regular specials will still be available, and when customers spend $35, they can receive a free raffle entry for the shop’s holiday raffle. The funds from the raffle will go toward Novant Health Rowan Medical Center’s 3D mammography unit for the new Rowan Medical Center mobile coach.
• At Brewtique, 514 S. Salisbury Ave. in Spencer, regular coffee is buy one, get one free.
• At Barnhardt Jewelers, 314 S. Salisbury Ave. in Spencer, customers can choose an ornament from their Christmas tree to reveal a secret discount. The discount must be used on the same day.

Contact reporter Amanda Raymond at 704-797-4222.