Small Business Saturday Signs, Banners and Staff Shirts

Why it matters for a Bergen County shop

American Express started Small Business Saturday in 2010, and the U.S. Small Business Administration has co-sponsored it since 2011, as the SBA notes. In 2026 it falls on Saturday, November 28. It sits between Black Friday and Cyber Monday, when most of the attention goes to big stores and big websites. For a small shop on Kinderkamack Road, Washington Avenue or Rock Road, the job that day is simple: get people walking by to notice you are open, local and worth stopping in.

We are a two-person shop in Paramus, so we think about this the same way you do. You do not need a big budget. A clear banner, a sign on the sidewalk, something on the window and matching shirts on the people working usually cover it.

What to order, and what it costs

These are the pieces that do the most for a holiday weekend. Prices are for one piece unless noted, straight from our designers, where you can see the full price before you check out.

Signs and vinyl include 6.625% NJ sales tax at checkout. Clothing is tax-exempt in New Jersey.

Check your town's sign rules first

This part matters more than the design. Most Bergen County towns limit outdoor banners, flags and sidewalk signs, and several only allow banners for a grand opening. A few examples from the codes we read:

• Paramus: the October 2026 sign ordinance bars banners, streamers, pennants, flags and balloons on signs in the highway commercial zones, and A-frame signs can be no larger than 4 square feet, out only during business hours and at least 10 feet from the right-of-way, as TAPinto Paramus and News 12 reported.
• Hackensack: temporary signs need a permit ($25.00), are capped at 8 square feet, and the permit runs 30 days, per the city's sign ordinance.
• Ridgewood: a sidewalk sandwich board in the Central Business District needs a yearly permit and proof of insurance, and is limited to 5 square feet and 24 inches wide under § 190-122H(9).
• Fair Lawn: strung banners, pennants and flags are not allowed, except unlettered ones for a grand opening (up to 14 days); temporary holiday or charitable signs can stay up to 45 days, per the Fair Lawn code.
• Teaneck: storefront banners have to fit within the business sign limits for lettering and total sign area, and must be anchored to the storefront; flags, streamers and bunting are only for a business opening (30 days, with a permit), per the Teaneck code.

What this means in practice: window graphics, signs displayed inside the store window and permanent window lettering are usually the safest way to promote a Saturday sale, and a 24 x 36 inch A-frame insert (6 square feet) is too large for the Paramus and Ridgewood limits. We are not lawyers, and rules change, so call your town's zoning or building office before you hang anything outside. Tell us the size limit and we will make the sign to fit.

A banner that works from across the street

The most common mistake is putting too much on a banner. From a car or the other sidewalk, people read about five words. A good layout is your business name, one short line like "Shop small this Saturday" or "20% off everything Saturday," and your hours or website. Use dark letters on a light background or the reverse, and make the main line fill most of the height. Our yard sign guide covers letter sizes and viewing distance.

In the sign designer you can type your words, pick colors or upload your logo, and see a mockup and price right away. A 3 by 6 foot banner comes with hems and grommets, so you can zip-tie it to a railing or hang it with hooks.

Window vinyl that keeps working

A banner comes down Monday. Window lettering with your hours, phone number, website or Instagram handle works every day after. If you have been meaning to fix faded or handwritten hours on the door, this is a good week to do it. The store hours package is $79.00. For the day itself, our Small Business Saturday window decal and one-line offer decal are quick to set up (cut vinyl starts at $8.00, with a $15.00 order minimum), and our storefront vinyl guide explains inside vs outside mounting and sizing.

Staff shirts for the weekend and after

Matching shirts make a small team look organized, and they keep working through the holidays and into next year. A front logo on a colored Gildan tee is $22.00 each at 12, and adding your website or "Ask me about gift cards" on the back is $3.00 more per shirt. Every shirt in an order can be a different size. See our staff shirt guide for picking blanks and logo sizes.

Order-by dates for November 28

Our turnaround starts when your deposit is paid and your mockup is approved. These dates are for contactless pickup in Paramus by Wednesday, November 25, the day before Thanksgiving, and count business days only. They are the latest safe dates; earlier is better.

If you need it shipped instead of picked up, add a few days and order sooner. If you are past these dates, text us at 201-948-4433 before you give up. Sometimes it still works, and we will tell you honestly if it does not. Our rush order guide explains what speeds things up.

About the Shop Small name and logo

"Small Business Saturday" and "Shop Small" are trademarks of American Express. We only print artwork you have the rights to use, so we do not put the official Shop Small logo on signs. American Express runs a Shop Small resource hub for businesses with official materials. Your own sign with your name, your offer and a plain phrase like "Shop local this Saturday" works just as well.

A simple plan for the weekend

1. This week: decide on your Saturday offer, even if it is just "open 9 to 6, free gift wrap."
2. By November 11: order staff shirts so they are ready with time to spare.
3. By November 16: order your banner and any sidewalk or yard signs.
4. By November 18: order window lettering, and book installation if you want it.
5. November 24 or 25: pick up in Paramus, hang the banner and put up the window decal before Thanksgiving.

If you would rather talk it through, book a 15-minute design chat or send your logo through the quote form and we will send back a mockup and price.

Prices as of November 2026, from our online designers. Clothing is exempt from NJ sales tax; signs and vinyl are taxed at 6.625%.