Shop Locally in Middletown on Small Business Saturday, Nov. 24

Today is Small Business Saturday. Squeezed in between Black Friday and Cyber Monday, it is a day to patronize the brick and mortar stores and services that our towns depend on, and hopefully give them a boost. 

It is estimated that 100 million people nationwide participated in Small Business Saturday last year, by shopping at their local stores. Business owners also give back to their Bayshore customers in many ways. 

For example, the Schito family, owners of M&S Waste Services, Inc. in Middletown, is offering a free month of garbage collection to existing customers if a new customer mentions your name when signing up from Saturday through Tuesday at (732) 471-8900. 

American Express founded the day in 2010 to help small businesses get exposure during the holiday season, when they might be otherwise overlooked. With retailers buzzing around the holidays, it is important to support local small businesses that rely on their neighbors in order to continue prospering and building up the local economy. 

If you have an eligible American Express card, you have until midnight Saturday to enroll in the American Express Shop Small program. If you use the card to spend $25 or more in a single in-store transaction at a qualifying small business location, you will receive a special $25 statement credit within 8 weeks. 

In Middletown, some participating businesses include Community Appliance at 717 Route 35 South, Cosmopawlitan at 1046 Route 35, and Nephews Skateshop and Gallery at 183 Main Street in Port Monmouth. 

There are many, many more. Scan the map at www.ShopSmall.com. 

You can also show your support by “liking” Small Business Saturday on Facebook by visiting www.facebook.com/shopsmall and your favorite merchants' pages. 

TELL US: What small businesses do you patronize in your town and what makes them great? Share in the comments below.