Small business owners hoping people shop local Saturday - NBC Right Now/KNDO/KNDU Tri-Cities, Yakima, WA |

KENNEWICK, Wash. -- Between Black Friday and Cyber Monday is a day dedicated to supporting small businesses nationwide. Last year, over one hundred million people came together to Shop Small in their communities on Small Business Saturday.

"Most of our members, 85% of our members employ less than 20 people," said Lori Mattson, the President and CEO of the Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber, along with the Historic Downtown Kennewick Partnership Executive Director, Timothy Dalton have been promoting their members to participate.

"We've been promoting this for the last couple of months, putting it on our newsletter, putting it on our Facebook. We've ordered the mats, 20 doormats," said Dalton who has ordered mats from American Express to decorate before November 24th.

The credit card company started promoting Small Business Saturday in 2010 and it has since grown. They encourage small business to register on their website and then give customers who shop at the registered locations, who spend at least $25, a $25 discount.

For small businesses, promoting local shopping is extremely important, especially for the owner of a three month old restaurant and shop which just opened in downtown Kennewick. "We're going to be starting all of our chocolates for Christmas, our stocking stuffers, gifts to ship to other people..We'll also be doing lunch specials," said Melissa Smith, owner of Euro Bistro and Chocolates, an Eastern European restaurant on Kennewick Avenue.

Other businesses downtown are also participating. "I plan on being open and giving 25% off to any customers that come in, and 35% to those who plan on spending more than $300, said John Wood, who took ownership of DaKind Smoke Shop in September. Wood also blows glass and plans on making wine glasses and wind chimes to put in his downtown Kennewick store.

Rick van Heel has owner The Music Machine since 1984 and says this year they'll also be participating in Small Business Saturday. "We're doing a lot of half price on guitars. If you look around you can see we're rearranging stuff. We're going to have different racks of different priced guitars,' van Heel said.

For more information and how to register your business, click here.