While Black Friday has been a day for major box stores, the day after has become a day to celebrate locally owned businesses.

These local merchants offered deals of their own on Small Business Saturday.

Businesses in Chatham participated, but also took it a step further. Many of the businesses opened their doors from 7 to 10 a.m. for an extra boost to business. 

Businesses also added their own special premiums and events to the promotion. They also made an effort to circulate information about the event to their regular customers through Facebook and email, providing the information and links for cardholders to enroll in the program. 

Customers who registered ahead of time for Small Business Saturday and spend more than $25 at participating stores will receive a $25 credit to their AMEX bill.

American Express founded the day in 2010 to help small businesses get exposure during the holiday season, when they might be otherwise overlooked.

Last year, 100 million people nationwide participated in Small Business Saturday by shopping at locally owned stores to help boost the economy and their communities.