Small Business Saturday is November 26

It’s time to think about holiday shopping and this year think small.  This Saturday is Small Business Saturday.   Small businesses need support and you can help by making them part of your shopping plans.

Martin Short is with the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Virginia District Office.  He’s the Lead Economic Development Specialist and Public information Officer.

“What the SBA has been doing for quite a few years now, in co-sponsorship with American Express, is designating the Saturday after Thanksgiving, and this year it’s the 26^th of November, as Small Business Saturday,” says Short.  “That’s a day that we set aside to celebrate and support small businesses and all the things they do for their communities.  It brings about attention to your small businesses, your small retail operations, and particularly those in rural communities, because those businesses are depending on this time of the year to really make the last part of their year very successful.”

Shopping at small businesses can really make a difference.  According to the Small Business Saturday Consumer Insights Survey, reported projected spending at independent retailers and restaurants on Small Business Saturday last year was estimated at $23.3 billion.

“It’s important, it’s the kick off of the holiday season as well, and we do this every year and I just wanted to bring that to the forefront as we move towards the holiday season,” says Short.  “Think about where you live, think about your community, think about those small businesses that are there, that have been there for some time, think about supporting them.  Supporting them in such a way that you want to see them around next year, because that’s important and it’s definitely important when it comes to rural communities with the challenges that rural communities face, such as maybe a decline in population or just a lack of access of resources.  Think about that.  Those small towns mean a lot and we want to see them around.”

For more information, visit www.sba.gov and search Small Business Saturday.  On that website, small businesses will find free marketing and social media materials.