4 Reasons to Shop Small Business Saturday
After the feast of turkey, stuffing, cranberries and pie, shopping is probably the most well-known and exciting item about the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. From after-dinner sales on Thursday to Black Friday and Cyber Monday, big businesses worldwide get an influx of business from shoppers hoping to catch a Christmas bargain. Small businesses, though, don’t see the same sales numbers. That is why it is important to support local, smaller businesses on Small Business Saturday, held the Saturday after Thanksgiving and Black Friday.
Why am we are shopping Small Business Saturday? Let me count the reasons:
- Small businesses create jobs. While big chain stores might provide a large variety of goods on their floors at all times, supporting small businesses with specialties truly helps give more people a paycheck and a livelihood.
- Shopping local supports local communities, local neighbors and local businesses. Being able to support the artisans, growers, producers, crafters and entrepreneurs in your local area is truly priceless in terms of helping them grow their businesses and product lines.
- Local businesses give back. When you shop local businesses in your community, they have the opportunity to give back through giveaways, sales and contributions to nonprofits and charities.
- Many small businesses are made up of families of entrepreneurs. A lot of small businesses are handed down from generation to generation, meaning that those who still work in a family business usually have an emotional and personal tie to their work. Helping them keep their family’s business going strong will make them extremely happy, and make you feel good, too.
How can you show your support Small Business Saturday? There are plenty of ways to get involved and help small businesses in your local community. In case you are at a loss for how to begin your Small Business Saturday shopping, here are a few easy ideas
- Find participating small businesses in your area. That website, shopsmall.com, should help you get a handle on which companies are open and ready for business on Small Business Saturday.
- Utilize the map feature on shopsmall.com. The 2014 Amex Small Business Saturday map is up and ready for use. Find small businesses in your area, and help a friend or family member find the small businesses in their hometowns.
- Bring “Shopping Small” into your own gift swaps at family celebrations. For example, each year my cousins and their spouses draw names for a gift swap. This year we’ve decided to only shop small businesses, so each gift given needs to come from a small business. I can’t wait to see what everyone gets!
Don’t forget – Small Business Saturday is November 29, 2014!