Today, November 30, marks the 10th anniversary of Small Business Saturday, always held the Saturday following Black Friday.
According to the Shop Small® Consumer Impact survey from American Express, 73% of people feel that empty storefronts are a national issue and 84% agree that the increase in empty storefronts and closing of small, independently owned businesses negatively affects their local community.
An average of $0.67 of every dollar spent at a small business in the U.S. ends up staying in that local community, but the impact does not stop there. The Shop Small Consumer Impact Survey from American Express found that when consumers are aware of their impact, 75% say they would be more likely to purchase a product or service from a small independently owned business. Over the past 9 years, consumers reported spending more than $100 billion at small businesses on Small Business Saturday. Based on that reported spend, and taking into account that an average of two-thirds of every dollar spent at a small business stays in that community, an estimated $67 billion has stayed local on Small Business Saturday, helping communities thrive.
“Shopping in historic downtown Franklin is as much about the sense of place as it is the shopping,“ says Jill Burgin, Main Street Director for the Downtown Franklin Association in a release. “Getting out of your car and walking among the buildings that have been here since the 1800s reminds you that there have been generations before us who conducted business here and helped make Franklin the thriving town it is today.”
So, after shopping online or hitting the big box stores, find your locally owned stores for that unique and special gift. There are thousands of locally owned stores that are offering curated items just for our community in mind, so shop local, buy local and help keep the money in our neighborhoods all across Williamson County.
ABOUT SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY
November 30th is the tenth annual Small Business Saturday, backed by American Express. Dedicated to supporting the diverse range of local businesses that create jobs, help boost the economy, and enhance neighborhoods around the country, Small Business Saturday was created by American Express in 2010 in response to small business owners’ most pressing need: getting more customers. Learn more at and connect with us on ShopSmall.com, instagram.com/shopsmall, facebook.com/SmallBusinessSaturday.
