Downtown Wilmington is the Perfect Place to Start a Small Business!

Is one of your goals for 2018 to start a small business? If you are an entrepreneur already, or have a great new business plan, Downtown Wilmington, DE is the perfect place to make a home for your business.

With a current thriving small business community, new corporations and organizations constantly incorporating in the city due to the State's tax structure and hundreds of new residences currently being built there is so much opportunity within the city!

Here are some resources to help get you started:

Downtown Visions- From façade improvement to financial assistance guidance, Downtown Visions has several programs specifically designed for those desiring to start a new business in the city, check them all out here. 

Downtown Visions also has workshops and events for small businesses. To stay updated on upcoming events, be sure to subscribe and follow us on Facebook.

Small and Minority Businesses and Tax Assistance- resources for small and minority-owned business as well as networking information can be found here.

Programs through the City and State- A tax abatement program, relocation/workforce development assistance, Grow Wilmington Fund and loans, architectural and engineering feasibility work matching, technical assistance and more information on the Downtown Development District can be found here. 

Complimentary Business Advice with a Certified Mentor- and more, including complimentary workshops for small businesses, can be found here through the Score program.

Starting your business and looking to live close by? Here are lots of great apartment communities right downtown! 

Small Business Saturday Deals Happening in Downtown Wilmington, DE!

Downtown Wilmington kicks off Small Business Saturday with the Downtown Christmas Parade starting at 11AM. Afterwards, attendees are encouraged to stop by the Delaware History Museum for Free family activities and fun between 12:30pm-4pm . The Playhouse on Rodney Square has tickets on sale now for Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer playing on both Saturday & Sunday. We encourage all to shop small at our local retailers and restaurants.

Below are just some of the retailers offering exclusive specials and promotions in celebration of Small Business Saturday!

Artzscape
Black Friday & Small Business Saturday Sale: Free gift with purchase of $50 or more, plus, 10% off all artwork by Motion Illustrationz! Did we mention free coffee and donuts?!
November 24th & 25th only, 10am-5pm

Al's Sporting Goods
Thanksgiving Weekend Sale: Tons of athletic equipment at DEEP discounts. Check out their ad for more INfo!
November 24th (8am-8pm) & 25th (9am-6pm) only

Cocina Lolo
Buy $100 in gift cards, receive a free $20 gift card!
Valid November 24th - December 24th

CoreTen Fitness
Free $50 gift card with the purchase of any $50 gift card!
November 27th - December 1st only

Delaware Art Museum
Gift Certificates and Studio Classes availble for gift-giving year-round! Special donation greeting cards will be available for purchase during the Winter Arts Festival letting friends know a donation has been made in their honor at the Delaware Art Museum (shop holiday gifts from over 18 artisans while you listen to festive music by local choirs!)... 

The Delaware Contemporary Annual Craft Show & Taste of the Holidays
The December Art Loop brings tons of local gift options every year and this dual event is top on our list!  December 1st only

Delaware Historical Society
FREE Admission during Small Business Saturday and December Art Loop. Shop the Museum Store for unique Delaware gifts while you're there!
November 25th and December 1st only

Delaware Museum of Natural History
Buy a gift membership to DMNH, and get two free guest passes!
Thru November 30th
 
Kalmar Nyckel
10% Discount on all Sail Passes and Merchandise
Thru December 21st

La Fia Bistro
Buy $100 in gift cards, receive a free $20 gift card!
Valid November 24th - December 24th

LaFate Gallery
Two-Day Holiday Auction & Sale: Bid on original folk and abstract paintings by multi award-winning folk artist Eunice LaFate! Mugs, t-shirts, resin, jewelry, sculptures and note cards also available.
November 24th & 25th only, 11am-6pm

LOMA Coffee
$1 any-size drip coffee, plus, a FREE LOMA Coffee mug with a purchase of $25 or more during Small Business Saturday!
November 25th only, while supplies last

Merchant Bar
Buy $100 in gift cards, receive a free $20 gift card!
Valid November 24th - December 24th

Nextfab Wilmington
Four special Class Packs being offered for the holidays:

• $50 Make Your Own Cutting Board
• $150 Learning the Lathe
• $250 Woodworking Foundations
• $500 Complete Techniques 

Masala Kitchen
Receive a $30 gift card for only $25!
Thru December 31st

Morgan's of Delaware
Mention this ad and save $20 off purchases of $100 or more!
Excludes sale merchandise. 

INtheSpirit Holiday Party
This annual holiday bash benefits Wilmington families IN need AND brings together more than a dozen local artists and artisans for last-minute gift buying opportunities!
December 20th only

OperaDelaware
Gift certificates for OperaDelaware's 2018 Festival make excellent holiday gifts and are available from $50-$200!
 
Poppycock Tattoo
Black Friday and Small Business Saturday Gift Certificate Sale: Every $100 spent, you get an extra $25! ($100=$125 $200=$250 $300=$375)
Nov 24th and Nov 25th only

Starbucks on Market                                                                                                                        Complimentary live music following the parade.

Studio One Eleven
10% off all services for new clients on Small Business Saturday
November 25th only

UDairy Creamery
Free Single Scoop Voucher for every $25 spent in store (gift certificates available in $5 increments!) during Small Business Saturday!
November 25th only, 8am-8pm

WiLDWiCH
$1.50 coffee drinks, any size, every Monday, all day! Mocha Latté, Cappuccino, Espresso, Machiatto, Coffee, and more. All from La Colombe coffee roasters. 
7am-4pm thru 2017

Women Business Center's Shop Small Marketplace
This marketplace during Small Business Saturday focuses on women-owned businesses and their products on display at The Delaware Contemporary!
November 25th only

We Want to Help YOU Prepare for Small Business Saturday!

Hard to believe, but the holidays are right around the corner! What is your business doing to properly prepare? 

Did you know Downtown Visions is here to help grow your business? In addition to all of our business resources, we are huge fans of Small Business Saturday on November 25th. We want to help you have an extra successful Small Business Saturday and encourage locals to #shopsmall.

In order to help you, please send us whatever promotions you will be offering on that day and we will help get the word out!

Simply email LSchweiger@downtownvisions.org the name of your business, the promotion you are offering, how to redeem that particular promotion and what hours you will be open that day. 

Not sure where to start? Here are two additional resources to help you prepare:

American Express FREE Small Business Toolkit

Big Ideas for Small Business Saturday

Post by Julia Mason of Enthusiasm Lab