This holiday season, Stafford County is inviting residents to shop local and support the small businesses that make their community unique — with a chance to win big in the process.
Savannah Wimbush from Stafford County’s Department of Economic Development joined Potomac Local News Publisher Uriah Kiser to discuss the county’s new Shop Small Stafford campaign, which ties into the national Small Business Saturday initiative recognized by the U.S. Small Business Administration, American Express, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
“More than 5,000 businesses call Stafford County home,” said Wimbush. “American Express found that for every dollar spent at a local business, about 68 cents stays in the community. That supports local jobs, growth, and opportunity.”
Shop Small and Win Big
The campaign encourages shoppers to use a digital passport to check in at participating small businesses across Stafford County. Each visit earns an entry into a drawing for one of three grand prizes:
- A $1,000 gift certificate, or
- One of two $500 gift certificates, each redeemable at the winner’s business of choice.
The prizes are sponsored by the Stafford County Economic Development Authority.
For Businesses: How to Join
Stafford businesses with a storefront can sign up to appear on the digital passport. Home-based and online merchants can participate, too — through the Shop Small Market hosted by Long Family Markets on Small Business Saturday, November 29, at the VDOT commuter lot near Stafford Marketplace.
Wimbush encourages all local business owners to get involved:
“We want every small business — whether you sell in a shop, at a market, or online — to have a way to connect with local shoppers this season.”
The deadline to register for the Shop Small Stafford campaign is Friday, November 14.
How to Participate
Residents and businesses can learn more and sign up for the digital passport at GoStaffordVA.com/Shop-Small-Stafford.
Kiser added that Potomac Local News welcomes information from small businesses across the region planning their own Small Business Saturday specials.
“As a small business ourselves, we want to help others succeed,” said Kiser. “Send us your stories — we’ll help share them with our readers.”
📅 Small Business Saturday: November 29, 2025
🌐 Learn more: GoStaffordVA.com/Shop-Small-Stafford
🎥 Watch the full interview:
