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The City of Portland, Oregon

Nick Fish (In Memoriam)

City of Portland Commissioner

phone: 503-823-3589

Email: nick@portlandoregon.gov

1221 S.W. 4th, Room 240, Portland, OR 97204

Shop small, shop local

December 12, 2013

Small Business Saturday

This morning, Nick was proud to read a Proclamation in honor of Small Business Saturday on November 30.

Small Business Saturday was created in 2010 to help bring in more customers to local businesses. The Saturday falls on the weekend after Thanksgiving – between Black Friday and Cyber Monday. 

Local group "Little Boxes" is also encouraging Portlanders to "shop small." Visiting a little box and making a purchase gives you a 10 percent discount at another little box. The more stores you visit, the more entries you gain in the raffle giveaways – from trips, to an iPad, to shopping sprees.

The business holiday has become nation-wide, and we are proud to support our local businesses here in Portland. We hope you will join us and shop small on November 30!

Business License Law

Small businesses are the engine that create jobs and drive our local economy.

City Council has set a long-term goal of increasing the business owner’s compensation deduction to $125,000. Increasing the deduction frees up money to expand payroll, create jobs, and invest in business growth.

Today, Nick was pleased to join City Council in unanimous approval for an Ordinance which will increase the deduction for our small business owners from $90,500 to $100,000. The change goes into effect in January 2014.

Celebrate the City!

Want to celebrate these great business milestones with us?

Join us at the Moda Center on Thursday, November 14 beginning at 6pm for Venture Portland’s second annual Celebrate the City! event. 


Learn more about Portland’s 50 unique neighborhood business districts, and bid on exclusive experiences around Portland – including picking up a new favorite local wine for only $10. You can even enter to win 52 or 12 "meal for two" gift certificates, and discover your new favorite restaurant!

Tickets are $50, and are available online or at the door.  We hope to see you there!

Portland wants to direct some surplus to soften tax burden for small business owners
Andrew Theen in The Oregonian

Portland OKs $100K tax deduction for business owners
Malia Spencer in the Portland Business Journal

Small Business Saturday Proclamation 

Little Boxes enters third year of imploring Portlanders to shop locally
Andy Giegerich in Sustainable Business Oregon

From small idea, Little Boxes grew big
Jessica Morkert on KOIN.com

'Little Box' Stores Vie for Black Friday Shoppers
John Tozzi on businessweek.com

'Little Boxes' band together for holiday attention
Joe Smith on KGW.com

Rosemary Reynolds interviews Commissioner Fish about 'Little Boxes'   

Portland Black Friday Event: Little Boxes l Get Rewarded For Shopping Locally, holiday Gifts, 175+ Participating Shops
On pdxpipeline.com

Little Boxes
On Albertamainstreet.com

Doing It! Little Boxes
on upsweptcreative.com

Small retailers fight for Black Friday business with big-box stores
Erica Nochlin on KATU.com

On Small Business Saturday, welcome to the neighborhood
The Oregonian Editorial Board

Portland small box stores attract new customers
on KGW.com