After the big Thanksgiving banquet with family is over this year, carve out some time for shopping with small businesses.
Small Business Saturday was created to raise awareness of the importance of small businesses and bring more customers through their doors. Since it was launched in 2010, the event falls on the first Saturday after Thanksgiving each year. The 2018 event takes place Nov. 24.
Small businesses contribute to the economic vitality of their local communities. In West Virginia, 98 percent of the businesses in the state are small. These small businesses employ nearly 50 percent of the state’s private workforce.
These same small businesses rely on customers to survive and thrive. For some small retail businesses, the November/December holiday season account for as much as 30 percent of their annual sales.
The West Virginia Small Business Development Center (WV SBDC) has joined forces with the Small Business Administration (SBA) West Virginia District Office to boost business and consumer participation. The agencies have been helping interested businesses to connect with resources from marketing tips to “I Shopped Small” stickers to give to customers.
“Communities are made special and unique by small businesses,” said Debra Martin, WV SBDC interim director. “As a consumer, you’re a key part in helping small businesses thrive. Celebrate this Small Business Saturday by sharing your favorite places, discovering new spots and celebrating independent businesses by giving them a boost. Get up, get out and shop or dine at a local small business, invite friends to shop with you, or share on your social networks where you #ShopSmallWV.”
Shopping local keeps more dollars in the community, industry studies report. Out of $100, for example, roughly $68 remain local when spent with a small local business, compared to only $48 when spent with a national chain.
Learn more about small businesses and connect on ShopSmallWV.com, Instagram.com/shopsmall, facebook.com/SmallBusinessSaturday.
