Small Business Saturday is November 25th this year (two days after Thanksgiving). Have you made plans to shop at your local small businesses that day and throughout the holiday season? And if you are the owner of a local small business, have you ordered your Shop Small® Kit yet? If not, you’ll need to hurry, as the deadline is tomorrow (November 10th)!
According to the Small Business Administration 2017 Small Business Profile, small businesses account for 99.9% of all US businesses, employ 47.8% of all US employees, and represent 97.7% of the businesses that export goods to other countries. Not only are small businesses vital to the national economy, they also benefit the communities in which they operate, both economically and socially. Small businesses often support local organizations (such as youth sports), contribute to local charities, and sponsor or take part in local events.
In an effort to help small businesses capture a chunk of the holiday shopping dollars, American Express founded the first Small Business Saturday in 2010. The event has continued each year, and by last year (2016) an estimated $15.4 billion dollars were spent by US shoppers at independent retailers and restaurants on Small Business Saturday.
For business owners, American Express has provided digital tools, in addition to the physical Shop Small® Kit noted above. The American Express Shop Small® website also includes an interactive map with markers for small business locations. To get your small business added to the map start at the Small Business Owners FAQ page.
Those of you who plan to support local small businesses on Small Business Saturday, throughout the holiday season and beyond, can start making plans with the Shop Small Map. You can either allow the map to grab your location, or you can enter your city or zip code. You can also filter the results by business type, and immediately see hours for and directions to any business on the map.
So, get out there and support your local small businesses this holiday season and beyond. And who knows… you might even discover a new favorite restaurant or gift shop.
