You might not realize it, but every time you pick up a cup of coffee from your favorite neighborhood cafe or buy a gift from a vintage store, you're shopping small and making a difference.
Small Business Saturday, a nationally recognized holiday held the Saturday after Thanksgiving (U.S.). It has now become a tradition – encouraging holiday shoppers to support local brick-and-mortar businesses rather than big box brands or online-only stores. Originally conceived and promoted by American Express back in 2010, it has become an important part of small businesses’ busiest shopping season.
Pink Friday which is the Friday before Black Friday (11/18/2022), is a day for boutique owners and their entire boutique industry to collaborate before Black Friday.
6 Big Reasons To Shop Small
1. Small businesses give back (more) to the community
When you support a local business, you’re also supporting your town, city, and neighborhood. Business pay sales taxes to the city and county the business is located in. that tax money is used to support public schools, parks, roads, and sidewalks, as well as fund public service workers, like firefighters. According to Civic Economics, on average, 48% of each purchase at local independent businesses is recirculated locally, compared to less than 14% of purchases at chain stores.
2. Small businesses make a major economic impact
More than half of the U.S.’s jobs since 1995 were created by small businesses. And according to the SBA, since 1990, big businesses eliminated 4 million jobs, while small businesses added 8 million jobs. The more you shop at a local store, the more potential job opportunities you could help them provide.
3. Small businesses provide better customer service
Small business owners strive to survive and one of the biggest advantages they have over large retailers is the ability to provide more personable, hands-on, and memorable customer service.
4. Small businesses provide greater access to product diversity
Shop at Target, Walmart or Best Buy and you’ll find little variation among their product selection. If you go to a big brand store, you can find that inventory] in a thousand stores. But if you go to a small, locally owned business, you can find something very special and very unique.
5. Small businesses create a sense of community
When you support that local business, you are supporting your friends, family, and neighbors. The local business that you support will help contribute to their livelihood in the community, as they in turn help improve your livelihood by offering high-quality products and services that you desire.
6. You’re going to feel good
How do you get more involved in the small business movement?
-Shop small for everything: groceries, coffee, clothes, furniture, etc
-Post on social media-either your own small business or where you shop. Also, make sure to leave a positive review (Yelp) for the businesses you love and support.
-Sign up for local business’ loyalty programs – Does a local business have a customer loyalty and rewards program? Sign up for it – not only will you be supporting a local business, but you’ll get discounts and rewards for it, too.
-Keep up with The Small Business Administration, and read up on additional tips such as the National Retail Federation’s post. https://nrf.com/
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