Extravagant holiday shop windows, the almond aroma of freshly baked biscotti, sales, and visits from Santa are some of the ways Long Island retailers are hoping to stand out from national chains as they gear up for Small Business Saturday.

Small-business owners and chambers of commerce are making every effort to entice shoppers as they compete for holiday spending against corporate giants amid rising costs and market fluctuations. American Express created the shop-small campaign in 2010 to drive local spending during the recession as a counterpoint to Black Friday , a shopping day that favors big-box stores.

Long Island business owners say their offerings — from personal recommendations, local flair and festive experiences — can’t be packed in a warehouse and shipped off in a cardboa

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