A marketing initiative created and promoted by American Express to encourage holiday shopping; Small Business Saturday is scheduled during one of the busiest shopping periods of the year.
We all love our small businesses but can often need a reminder about the importance of supporting them year-round. Supporting local is not just for one day out of the year but should be something we all should strive to do every day, 365 days. You may think to yourself, can $10 really make an impact on our community if we shop locally? Yes, it can! The impact is sizeable.
It’s estimated that over $9.3 billion would be returned to our US economy if every family spent just $10 a month at a local business (according to the US Chamber of Commerce)! There are over 1.1 Million small businesses in the Commonwealth of PA, and of that 1.1. Million, over 39% are owned by women. 108,222 of the 1.1 million small businesses are classified as “retail trade.”
So, the next time you ask yourself, “what is the difference in buying something from a big-box store rather than a local retailer”, consider that local retailers often offer the same type of item but could get it to you faster or even offer a more personalized touch. Local businesses are our community members, neighbors, and friends. They know us better than the big box stores. If you buy at a local hardware store, for example, that owner may hire a local accountant who employs local residents that patron our local restaurants. The success of one business can have a positive chain reaction felt throughout every corner of our community.
If you’re looking for a gift idea, but don’t know where to start, ASK A LOCAL!
Our local businesses have chosen to call Warren County home. They have invested their time and resources in our community. Why not support one another every chance we get? The community plays a major role in ensuring prosperity exists throughout the entire County. “Support local, shop local” needs to be a priority 12 months a year, every year, not just one Saturday in November. This is not something that requires a dramatic shift in our lives. Simply asking ourselves if buying an item might be possible from a local retailer, rather than ordering it on-line or at a big box store, is an easy, and necessary, commitment to make.
Throughout Warren County there will be numerous sales going on for Small Business Saturday. We at the Chamber always encourage you to support our local businesses. Don’t get lost in the Black Friday deals and Cyber Monday sales. Supporting local not only supports the business, but the community. It helps create jobs, improves quality of life, and strengthens the organizations that in turn support local nonprofits in our area.
“Leading Warren County to economic and community excellence.” That’s the mission of the Warren County Chamber of Business and Industry. As long as there exists a difference between what a community is and what a community should be, there is a need for a Chamber of Commerce. We solve problems so you, the business leaders, and innovators, can thrive because strong businesses create strong communities. WCCBI believes in an “all ships rise” mentality. Let’s work together to change the mindset and improve our overall economic and community excellence!