Small Business Saturday Starts Here
Small Business Saturday is coming soon on Saturday, Nov. 29. Below, you’ll find a full plug-and-play toolkit to make planning easy. But first, we want to hear how your cinema is getting ready. Please take a moment to fill out this quick survey so we can share ideas and promote what independents are planning.
This year’s goal is simple: celebrate local pride and remind moviegoers that when they support their hometown cinema, they support their community. Inside this toolkit you’ll find:
- Steal These Ideas: A list of activations from fellow exhibitors
- Cinema Playbook: A simple playbook and staff checklist
- Local Partner Outreach Template: An email template to create partnerships.
- Press & Messaging Guide: Key messages and press talking points
- Social Posts & Hashtags: Ready-to-use social posts and hashtags
Pick one or two ideas and run with them. Independent cinemas matter to Main Street, to local culture, and to the businesses around you. Let’s show our communities why supporting hometown cinemas on Small Business Saturday — and all year — makes a difference.
The Leading Voice of Independent Theatre Owners
The Independent Theater Owners Coalition (ITOC) champions the advancement of independent exhibitors as the backbone of the cinema industry by fostering collaboration and advocating for pro-growth policies that drive innovation, build communities, and advance the moviegoing experience.
Independents Bring People Together
Small business and nonprofit cinemas are not just entertainment hubs that drive local economies, they’re vital cultural beacons that bring people together by offering a window to the wider world and fostering a sense of belonging and shared experience.
From rural towns to urban centers, ITOC members are deeply rooted in the communities they serve. Cinema United represents hundreds of independent movie theatres that offer the only cinematic experience for miles in small towns across the country.
Membership:
ITOC membership is open to all Cinema United member companies operating independently. This inclusive approach ensures a wide representation and diverse input from various independent cinema operators.
ITOC Leadership:
The coalition’s volunteer leadership is at the forefront of discussions and advocacy efforts for independent cinema operators within the industry.
Colleen Barstow
Chair
Cinema United Executive Board Treasurer
ACX Cinemas
cbarstow@mainstreettheatres.com
Paul Gunsky
Cinema United Executive Board Member
Cinelux Theatres
paul@cineluxmovies.com
Lauren McChesney
Shankweiler’s Drive In
Becky DuPuis
Polson Theatres
ITOC Events
ITOC convenes bi-annually, gathering in the spring during CinemaCon and in the fall at the Fall Summit, to discuss advancements and challenges within the independent cinema sector. Additionally, ITOC hosts monthly member webinars that are designed to merge in-depth studio marketing presentations on the promotion of upcoming films with informative sessions on essential business strategies.
Contact Information:
For further details about ITOC and how to get involved, please reach out to Todd Halstead at ITOC@natodc.com.
