The National Association for Printing Leadership (NAPL) and its small business advocate, the National Association of Quick Printers (NAQP), will participate as a supporter of the second annual Small Business Saturday on November 26, 2011. Small Business Saturday is a national initiative that declares the Saturday between “Black Friday” and “Cyber Monday” as a day to support local businesses.
 
The inaugural Small Business Saturday, created in 2010 by founding sponsor, American Express, galvanized support across the US: more than 1.5 million Facebook users, 130 small business, public and private organizations, and 41 government leaders joined in the initiative. More than 170 groups have already signed on to support the 2011 program.

NAPL/NAQP recognizes the importance of small businesses throughout the country, the jobs they create, and the support they provide to activities in their local areas. Small businesses have generated 64% of net new jobs over the past 15 years and employ just over half of all private sector employees, according to the Small Business Administration.

“Our members are an integral part of the economic fabric of their communities,” said NAPL President and Chief Executive Officer Joseph P. Truncale, Ph.D., “and we are pleased to support a program that will encourage both consumers and business customers to patronize their local printers and make use of the wide range of communications services they offer.”
 
“We are proud to have NAPL/NAQP join the Small Business Saturday Coalition,” said Maryann Fitzmaurice, Senior Vice President, American Express OPEN. “It is critical that we get as many supporters on board as possible to generate demand for small, independently owned businesses this holiday season and beyond.”
 
Since 1933, NAPL has been a management education and industry research leader at every stage of the U.S. commercial printing industry's growth and transformation. Founded in 1975, NAQP serves the needs of the quick and small commercial printing sectors, both independent printers and franchise businesses, with a strong focus on small-format printers and owner-operated and entrepreneurial businesses.
 
The two organizations came together in 2005 and now offer a wide range of management development programs, trends research, and educational resources for graphic communications companies of all sizes throughout North America. The annual NAPL/NAQP Owners Conference is the only graphic communications industry event geared specifically for the interests and concerns of the small business, franchise, and owner/operator industry segments.
 
Raising Awareness

Social media will play a central role in helping raise awareness about the importance of supporting small business and recognizing Small Business Saturday. Business owners can take advantage of the following promotions at facebook.com/smallbusinesssaturday:

American Express will give $100 of free Facebook advertising to the first 10,000 independent business owners who register at facebook.com/smallbusinesssaturday to help build online buzz about the event and attract customers. By entering a few pieces of information and clicking a button, these business owners can create a personalized, geo-targeted ad that will run on Facebook leading up to November 26.
Small business owners can also go to Facebook.com/smallbusinesssaturday to download online promotional materials that will help them drive sales to their business on Small Business Saturday.