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Make a Big Impact: Holiday Shop at Small Businesses

The holiday season conjures up images of Black Friday shopping or purchasing gifts online. But shoppers this year who want to purchase gifts while supporting the local community are encouraged to support local businesses during Shop Small Saturday on Nov. 30.

Small and locally-owned businesses across the country are participating in Shop Small Saturday, typically held the weekend after Thanksgiving, to support their communities. Patronizing a homegrown shop, book store or other retailer makes a sizable contribution locally. According to a 2018 Small Business Economic Impact Study, for every dollar spent at a small business in the United States, approximately 67 cents stays in the local community.

According to the Small Businesses Administration, in 2018 (the latest figures available), small businesses nationwide created 1.9 million net new jobs. Overall, there are more than 30 million small business in the United States, which employ nearly half (47 percent) of the country’s private workforce. There is no question that small businesses help communities thrive across the country.

If you’ve passed by a local shop several times but never had an opportunity to visit, Shop Small Saturday is the best time to check it out. Small businesses in our area often carry locally made, one-of-a-kind gifts or items you may not be able to find anywhere else. If you work up an appetite shopping all day Saturday, restaurants or coffee shops benefit the local economy as well.

Our community’s local home builders and remodelers are also small businesses who make an important contribution to our local economy. According to the National Association of Home Builders, constructing 100 new single-family homes creates 297 full-time jobs, $28 million in wage and business income and $11.1 million in federal, state and local tax revenue.

Once your holiday shopping list is complete, if you’re looking for someone to remodel, or even build your dream home, consider seeking out a business based in our community to see what they have to offer. Our community has an array of qualified professionals including home builders, remodelers, trades people and professional service providers.