Old Town Cape merchants are pulling together with a Downtown Passport program to mark Small Business Saturday, which is the Saturday after Thanksgiving.

The retail event was initiated in 2010 by American Express to try to help businesses attract more customers and to encourage the patronage of small establishments. In 2011, the U.S. Senate officially recognized the day, and in 2013, more than 1,450 organizations rallied to the shop-small cause with promotions and events to help stimulate the small-business sector, according to a news release from Old Town Cape.

Old Town Cape will offer shoppers a passport program Saturday. When customers make a purchase at a participating retailer -- 32 are taking part -- they receive a stamp on their passport. Each stamp qualifies them for one entry into the giveaway of a downtown gift basket that's made up of gift cards and merchandise. The more places consumers shop downtown on Saturday, the more chances they have to win. There is no minimum purchase amount, and participants can receive only one stamp per retailer, according to Christa Zickfield, Old Town Cape project manager.

A full list of participating vendors is available at OldTownCape.org/Events.

"The product quality and level of customer service offered from our community's small businesses are unmatched in commercial chains. We, as small business owners, are proud of the products and services we offer." But it's more than that, Jayne Ervin, owner of Jayson Jewelers, said in the release. "Area small businesses are vested in our community. Purchases made in small establishments not only support our local economy, they also help support other local organizations and charities by affording us the opportunity to donate both time and resources to their causes."

nhadler@semissourian.com

388-3630