Small Business Saturday, which has been held for 15 years to support local businesses as the holiday shopping season begins, will return this weekend.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce reports that consumers have spent $210 billion on Small Business Saturday since the event began in 2010.
“Each year, this event is held the day after Black Friday to remind shoppers of the importance of supporting local businesses in the midst of peak holiday spending season,” Chamber of Commerce officials said in a statement. .
The event was established by credit card company American Express to boost local sales after the Great Recession. The company reported that efforts are being coordinated to help businesses affected by Hurricanes Helen and Milton earlier this year.
The day also serves as the kickoff for the U.S. Small Business Administration’s second annual Small Business Season campaign across the region.
“Small businesses create two-thirds of net new jobs and are an important pillar of our community,” said SBA Buffalo District Director Victoria Reynolds. “Choosing to shop small with local businesses is a meaningful way to ensure entrepreneurs and small business sellers can continue to create jobs, stimulate the economy, and contribute to local vibrancy.” It shows your support.”
The Season of Small Business initiative continues through December and encourages consumers to support more than 34 million U.S. small businesses throughout the holiday season. In recent years, the United States has experienced a small business boom, driven largely by women and people of color, with 20 million new business applications filed nationwide.
In addition to spending their money locally, shoppers can further support local small businesses through social media posts. All shoppers are encouraged to share their experiences on social media by posting photos of the stores they visit and the treasures they find using hashtags like #SmallBizSaturday, #ShopLocal and #ShopSmall. I will.
For more information about SBA’s support of Small Business Saturday, visit sba.gov/saturday.
Many area small businesses will be offering sales and specials on Saturday, but there are too many to include in a news report. For information on individual retailers, visit each retailer’s social media accounts or stop by the store on Saturday.
