Larger retailers lure crowds into their stores on Black Friday with ‘doorbuster’ deals. If that’s not enough, almost all participate in Cyber Monday and even offer free shipping.
But, what about smaller local businesses? They need our support now more than ever. Small businesses are a huge part of our nation's economy.
The holidays are right around the corner, and this includes Small Business Saturday on November 28th! Here’s why you win big when you shop small.
What is Small Business Saturday?
Small Business Saturday was created by American Express in 2010. The “holiday” was started to help small businesses in response to the Great Recession. The event takes place the Saturday following Thanksgiving week. The purpose of Small Business Saturday is to invite community members to shop and support the small businesses in their area.
Statistics from American Express show that in 2019 Americans spent $19.6 billion at independent businesses on Small Business Saturday. This year, we are encouraging everyone to support those small businesses that have been hit hard due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Avoid Crazy Black Friday Shopping
We all know that Black Friday offers some of the best deals of the year. But, is it worth waking up at the crack of dawn to wait in line? And, what about fighting off the crowd? That is a huge negative for a lot of people. However, by shopping on Small Business Saturday, you’ll get what you want AND with great service. That outweighs any “doorbuster” deal.
Adds More Local Jobs
According to the Small Business Administration, small businesses employ about half of all private-sector employees in the U.S. Shopping at local businesses helps these smaller shops keep their doors open and their workers employed. That’s what we like to call a win-win situation.
Support Your Local Economy
It’s simple, by buying local, your money stays local. This means more jobs for local residents and increased tax revenues for local governments. Buying local may mean your spending a little more, but your purchase goes beyond that one store - it extends all the way into your community.
Small and Local Businesses Are Online Too
There is a common misconception that local businesses are not online. To the surprise of many, most of them are! This year, we know many will be opting out of in-store shopping and doing it all online. Know that most businesses do have online storefronts you can order from.
Websites like Etsy Local can help you find nearby businesses with whatever you’re searching for. This holiday season, you can shop online while supporting local!
One of a Kind Items
Small businesses offer unique items that you probably won’t be able to find in other larger stores. These items are usually special and cannot be mass-produced. You may even find that the quality of these items are higher than anything that can be found at a bigger chain store.
You don’t have to limit your support to justify this one day, think local year-round. Shopping and supporting small benefits you and your communities.
We hope that everyone will get out (or online) and shop small and local!
Arnold Insurance knows that small business can be a risky endeavor. Learn more about what the right kinds of coverage are for a small business by downloading our free eBook: "Small Business Guide to Proper Insurance Coverage."
