The end of November is packed with some of the biggest shopping holidays of the year. From the long lines of Black Friday to the internet deals of Cyber Monday, the few days after Thanksgiving launch the official start to the holiday shopping season. However, sandwiched between these two giant sales days for big retailers and ecommerce giants is a relatively new holiday dedicated to small business: Small Business Saturday (SBS). This national holiday, which was first celebrated in 2010, encourages consumers to support and shop at their local and neighborhood stores. In a previous blog post we touched on how business owners can get ready for SBS.
Taking place annually on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, this year SBS will be celebrated on November 28th. In 2020, SBS is especially important considering the implications COVID-19 has had on many small business owners across the country. Given the tough financial situations many of these merchants find themselves in, it’s never been more important to buy local. Whether you plan to support small businesses from the comfort of your sofa or a safe social distance in stores, we put together a list of reasons to shop small on SBS and all holiday season long.
1. Small businesses create jobs.
Based on data from 2019, the U.S. Small Business Administration estimated small businesses accounted for 1.8 million net new jobs. Shopping at your local businesses means keeping people employed and creating new jobs as they grow.
2. Local businesses care about the community.
Small businesses are more likely to donate and give back to their community. In fact, small businesses donate 250% more than their larger competitors. Therefore, by shopping local, you keep more money in your community, helping it thrive!
3. They have unique product offerings.
Small, local shops often have more unique and diverse products when compared to big retail stores. If you’re looking for something unique or uncommon, small shops are definitely the way to go.
4. Personalized customer service.
Shopping small is great for receiving personalized service. Local business owners care about the people in the neighborhoods they serve. Many small business owners make a point of developing relationships with their customers while learning their needs and preferences.
5. It feels good!
It just feels good to support the businesses that make up and give back to your community!
