Saturday, November 26 is Small Business Saturday. This day exists to celebrate small businesses, and show support for all they do in their communities. The Small Business Association (SBA) encourages consumers to support your local small businesses this holiday season and beyond.
Small Business Saturday was founded by American Express in 2010 and has been cosponsored by the SBA since 2011. It has since become one of the most important shopping days of the year for small business owners across the country. Spending at independent retailers reached an all-time high of $23.3 billion on Small Business Saturday in 2021.
Small Business Saturday Fast Facts!
- The United States Senate unanimously passed a resolution in 2011 to annually support Small Business Saturday. (via American Express)
- Business associations, nonpropfit trade groups, municipalities, and public officials united to form the Small Business Saturday Coalition. (via American Express)
- Their purpose is to continually remind everyone to Shop Small!
- A 2021 survey by CNBC found that 34% of Americans planned to Shop Small on Small business Saturday. This is lower than it was pre-pandemic, which shows how much small businesses could use your support! (via Bankrate)
Looking for more ways to participate in Small Business Saturday?
- Click here to find small businesses in your area!
- Small businesses can get free marketing materials here.
- Follow the official Shop Small social media channels for ways to get involved.
- Don’t have social media? Spread the word anyways! Word of mouth is a great way to get friends and family to shop at small businesses.
- Ordering takeout? Call the restaurant and order directly from them. Third party apps take a large percentage of the payment away from the small business.
The upcoming holiday season is critical for small businesses everywhere. If you are shopping for gifts, please consider a local small business. This week, we put the spotlight on area small businesses on our social media channels! Check out our Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram pages to see if you know them.
If you are you a small business in need of additional resources or support, please visit First Bank’s SBA Lending page.