Local stores push Small Business Saturday

“Businesses in the Greater Louisville region enjoy the support of Small Business Saturday”.

In Chapel Hill, Carrboro, Hillsborough and other local towns, many businesses are offering special Small Business Saturday deals to entice shoppers. Vilsack: “Small businesses are the lifeblood of rural America”.

First observed on November 27, 2010, Small Business Saturday is a counterpart to Black Friday and CyberMonday, which feature big box retail and e-commerce stores respectively.

Small Business Saturday is supported by Gov. Robert Bentley and the Alabama Small Business Commission. The popularity exploded through the years, with shoppers spending roughly $14.3 billion on Small Business Saturday in 2014.

The family owned business has been preparing for months.

“The dollars that are spent on local small businesses contribute to the health of our local community and their financial ecosystems”, explained Golden. You see small businesses create two of every three net new jobs, and deliver goods and services to communities every day of the year, according to the U.S. Small Business Administration. “So, therefore, those small businesses are turning right back around and are able to support those community schools and educational opportunities”, Friel added.

Clarksburg Mayor Cathy Goings, owner or co-owner of 5 small businesses, said the unofficial shopping holiday is something she pleasantly anticipates.

For some local businesses, the shopping rush doesn’t begin until Black Friday is over. Travel outside your comfort zone – and away from your computer screen – to discover a unique neighborhood shopping district with some trendy local stores.

The survey also indicates 88 million people shopped small on Small Business Saturday past year.

Competing with corporate big-box stores can be a challenge, especially during the holiday season, said Sammy Nasrollahi, owner of Rugs of Distinction and president of the Uptown Greenwood Development Corp.

“We’ve put out to our chamber membership that this is a great way for us to advertise for them and participate in chamber bucks. People can go into a chamber small business and support that business and keep their money at home”.