Shop on Small Business Saturday

“Small Business Saturday has been a good day for us business-wise, but more so, it is so heartwarming to see people go out of their way to help downtown survive”, said Chuck Stanko, who co-owns Dolce Bakery & Coffee Shop with George Carroll.

The day has grown into a well-known shopping day like Black Friday and Cyber Monday, Strickland added, noting that retail economics studies show that local business generates 70% more local economic activity per square foot than big box retail.

Read the full story in Wednesday’s edition of The Spirit.

“Despite the challenges that still exist in our economy, it looks as if consumers are eager to celebrate the holidays with friends and family this year”, NRF CEO Matthew Shay said in a statement.

Be safe online: Shop safe online;look for a small lock icon and an extra “s” in the URL.

While American Express used to give shoppers a rebate for making purchases at participating small businesses on Small Business Saturday, the company said on its website the credits will be eliminated this year.

Small Business Saturday was started by American Express, a BBB Accredited Business.

They are encouraging people to do their Christmas shopping in town because money spent locally comes back into the local economy. The event is meant to encourage people to shop locally, and the Iowa City Downtown District aims to offer shoppers a more personal experience with the backdrop of downtown Iowa City. John McLaughlin, a spokesman for NFIB, said not every participating business registers their event with NFIB. “This is a great way to not only rev that engine, but also to acquaint or re-acquaint yourself with your neighbors who own and work at small businesses.”. In addition, 66 percent of consumers state the main reason they support small businesses is due to their contributions to the community.

In New Orleans, Stay Local, an independent business alliance, will sponsor a Small Business Saturday Second Line, starting at 11 a.m., beginning at the Community Book Center at 2523 Bayou Road. “Everyone makes a big deal about it and I think it’s good because everyone should be shopping at small businesses all the time”.

Each shopper is projected to spend an average of almost $806, up by only a few dollars from previous year, according to the National Retail Federation.

“The signs are going up, the wreaths are up”, Murray said. The Environmental Protection Agency also suggests that shopping local cuts down pollution by 50 percent by reducing processing, packaging and transportation waste. The same report found that 77 percent of shoppers will do some of their shopping at local stores.