Vendor Applications Are Now Open!
Watch Short Videos of the 2025 Event
See You All Saturday, November 28, 2026
Crowne Plaza, Warwick
ABOUT THE EVENT
Small Business Saturday Shop RI 10: A Decade of Small Business Power
Join us as we celebrate 10 years of shopping small and supporting local at Rhode Island’s premier holiday shopping showcase! Small Business Saturday Shop RI brings together more than 150 diverse vendors – including entrepreneurs, artists, Farm Fresh RI, Social Venture Enterprises, veterans, minority-owned, and disability-owned businesses – all under one roof.
For a decade, this event has been the place to discover unique gifts, handmade goods, and one-of-a-kind services, all while supporting the small business community that powers our state.
Free admission and free parking make it easy for the whole family to enjoy a full day of shopping, connection, and community spirit.
Hosted at the Crowne Plaza in Warwick, this milestone year promises to be our biggest and most exciting yet – honoring the incredible growth of our vendors and the thousands of shoppers who have made this event a Rhode Island tradition.
Organized by the Rhode Island Developmental Disabilities Council.
ABOUT SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY
Small Business Saturday is a shopping holiday held each year on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. American Express launched the campaign in 2010 to rally support and dollars for small business owners in the holiday shopping rush. The day has been steadily increasing in popularity as an alternative to the chaos of Black Friday and Cyber Monday, which typically support major retail companies.
Small Business Saturday’s “Shop Small” message encourages consumers to engage in their local communities by supporting the small business economy. This is promoted by all types of local businesses – restaurants, cafes, spas, retail shops, entrepreneurs, community artists, etc. – making it an exciting day for all who participate.
Nationally celebrated, RIDDC is the first state-funded organization to create the one day, pop-up mall experience, which included 150 vendors, including twenty-six entrepreneurs with disabilities, veterans, and many minority-owned businesses. 2025 was another banner year.
Check Out Headlines From 2024’s Event!
Shop RI Goes Big On Small Business Saturday
Rob Borkowski, Warwick Post
Small Business Saturday’s annual assembly of entrepreneurs returned for a sold-out expo Saturday with thousands of eager shoppers browsing 166 vendors at Crowne Plaza, including first-timers and regulars.
Big dividends in shopping small
John Howell, Warwick Beacon
There was nothing small about Shop Small Business Saturday at the Crowne Plaza in Warwick. Following on the heels of Black Friday one might have suspected shoppers would be tapped out. But no, that wasn’t the case as bargain hunters turned their attention to the unique and in most cases, the handcrafted.
Why shop small?
Small businesses are essential for healthy local economies, so when you shop small and local you are supporting your own community. In Rhode Island, small business make up 98% of registered businesses and provide jobs to 57% of all people who are employed in the state.
Why is our event unique?
The day offers visitors a once-in-a-year opportunity to browse a cross-section of businesses from across the state without the hassle of driving from place to place, and allows businesses to network with those from other communities. Together we can help our little state’s small business economy grow and thrive. In 2025, we hosted more than 150 vendors across a wide range of categories from homewares to pet supplies and more, and 3,500 shoppers.
SBSSHOPRI is the only small business Saturday event to showcase entrepreneurs with disabilities as small business owners as well as veterans, other minority owned businesses and local entrepreneurs.
We can’t wait to see what 2026 has in store.
