Spending money in our community is a good practice. When you shop locally, your tax dollars have local benefits. There is more money for local parks, community improvements and public safety.
Money spent at small, local retailers stays in the local economy. In turn, local business owners and employees spend their money locally, invest locally and support local nonprofit organizations.
When you shop local, there’s a greater chance that you will find something unique to our culture and community. You also are likely to already know the store’s owner or employees at a small business and be the recipient of helpful, small-town service.
The holiday shopping season is critical to small businesses, accounting for a huge percentage of yearly sales.
For decades, Christmas shopping excitement has focused on Black Friday deals, which have unfortunately overtaken Thanksgiving Day. Then Cyber Monday became another focus of holiday shopping.
In between those two events, there’s a movement to promote “shopping small,” which benefits our community in a big way.
American Express initiated Small Business Saturday by encouraging people to support small, local businesses on the Saturday after Thanksgiving.
In 2011, the U.S. Senate officially recognized Small Business Saturday with governors, mayors, senators and even the president voicing their support.
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