Miami-Dade Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce Introduces "Rainbow Saturday"

Have you heard of "Black Friday"? Surely most of you have: It's one of the top shopping days of the year, where people wake up early in search of the best and hottest deals. But what about "Rainbow Saturday"? The Miami-Dade Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (MDGLCC) is introducing an initiative aimed at promoting some of their members, namely the LGBT-owned and allied retailers.

Modeled after the "Small Business Saturday" first introduced a few years ago by American Express, the MDGLCC wanted to replicate the spirit of promoting and driving business to local retailers in creating "Rainbow Saturday." Miami-Dade's first-ever "Rainbow Saturday" starts at noon on Saturday, November 29. At that time, shoppers are asked to gather at the LGBT Visitor Center (1130 Washington Avenue, 1st Floor North, Miami Beach), where MDGLCC member retailers are allowed to set up pop-up shops. From there, the shoppers can peruse the member vendors' displays and can buy presents for the holidays. As an official Chamber function, the MDGLCC will be promoting names of participating retailers, along with their sale items and prices, on the website GayBizMiami.com and in the e-newsletter "PluggedIN."

At 4 p.m., transactions at the pop-up businesses set up at the LGBT Visitor Center will wind down. After some remarks by MDGLCC members, shoppers will be encouraged to visit and patronize additional MDGLCC member businesses, including restaurants and bars. Purchases made on Rainbow Saturday at MDGLCC members are eligible for free holiday gift wrapping with proof of receipt.

For more information, call the Miami Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce at (305) 673-4440. A full list of participating businesses will be uploaded to GayBizMiami.com by November 26