As malls and big box stores are preparing to welcome shoppers for Black Friday, another group of merchants is getting ready for Small Business Saturday.

The annual shopping holiday was started by American Express. This year, Fifth Avenue Business Improvement District Director Mark Caserta says American Express is featuring Park Slope in their national campaign to get people shopping small.

American Express coined the phrase Small Business Saturday in 2010 in response to small business owners who said that their biggest need was getting more foot traffic in their stores.

To further feature the small business owners, the Fifth Avenue Business Improvement District will light the Park Slope tree on Saturday, so shoppers can really get in the holiday spirit.