NEW YORK—Small Business Trends, a great resource for all types of independent businesses, in an updated post this month, suggests 50 Clever Ways to Market Your Business Before and After Small Business Saturday, a post by Annie Pilon. From partnering with other local retailers and businesses to creating unique local and proprietary hashtags, there are many ways to use this year’s 10th annual #ShopSmall day as a way to propel enduring marketing tactics all year long. As we explain in this month’s edition, hundreds of eyewear and opti-retailers and independent practices are taking part.

American Express created the concept of Small Business Saturday. A new survey American Express conducted with Wakefield Research found that 77 percent of 1,000 people surveyed considered Small Business Saturday a national tradition. It also found that 77 percent of those surveyed are interested in spending money with small businesses on Small Business Saturday this year, a increase from 44 percent in 2010.