Never mind the fact that holiday commercials have been on our televisions since before Halloween; this weekend marks the official start of the holiday season for most people. This is due, in no small part, to the fact that it’s a lot cheaper to cross a few items off your shopping list on Black Friday.
It may be cheaper, but is it the best way to buy gifts for your loved ones?
Whether or not you do hop in line on Thursday at midnight for some hot deals, you should head back out on Saturday to support your local business owners.
Since 2010, the Saturday after Thanksgiving (November 30 in 2013) has been known as Small Business Saturday. Just the next year, it was officially recognized by the U.S. Senate. Where Black Friday focuses on large chains and big box stores, Small Business Saturday is about supporting your own community and shopping at small businesses (“Shop Small”).
So, why should you do your holiday shopping at a small business instead of going to a big box store? The commercials and advertisements say that their prices can’t be beat! Here are just a few reasons you should support your community this weekend:
1. More unique selections
Huge chains tend to carry the same, or at least similar, selections from location to location. When you buy someone a gift from there, you run the risk of someone else buying them the same thing. They may have even bought it for themselves at their nearest chain location.
Small businesses tend to carry different selections and brands than big box stores. Whatever gem you find at a local boutique is more likely to be a unique gift. And don’t we want the gifts we give our loved ones to be memorable?
2. It helps your community
A 2003 study showed that for every $100 spent at businesses that were locally owned and operated, about $45 of that hundred dollars stayed in the local economy. However, the same amount of money spent at a nationwide chain store only put about $13 back into the community economy. Talk about more bang for your buck!
3. Less crowds
I’m just going to be blunt with this: Black Friday crowds are plain crazy most of the time. People give in to mob mentality and do things they otherwise wouldn’t. Like push, shove, pull, step on peoples’ feet, and even worse things. In some places, shopping on Black Friday can actually be dangerous.
Every year, you hear about a mob, someone getting trampled, or people getting into fights over the last of that year’s hot item. So just stay home and wait until Small Business Saturday.
4. It’s environmentally friendly
Think about how far items travel to go from a national chain’s nearest warehouse to the shelves of your town’s location. Now think about how it has to get there. Whether by train, plane, or automobile, some kind of fuel is used to power the vehicle shipping the items.
On the flip side, local businesses are more likely to stock shelves with items from other local businesses. This gives even more power to reason #2, since you’re buying something from a local business that buys from a local business, as well as putting less fuel emissions into the environment.
5. It creates and sustains local jobs
It’s no secret that small businesses are struggling to compete with bigger companies. By shopping and dining at local businesses this Saturday, as well as the rest of the year, you’re helping those places stay in business. The longer they stay in business, the longer they provide jobs to your community. And if they can manage to grow their business in this economy, they’ll create even more local jobs!
So don’t forget to #ShopSmall this Saturday, and help us spread the word with these ready-to-send tweets:
- Don’t forget to #ShopSmall this Saturday! Here’s why you should support #SmallBizSaturday
- Shop at a small business this holiday season for a gift that’s one-of-a-kind!
- #ShopSmall this holiday season to spend money that stays in the community
- Skip the #BlackFriday crowds this year and #ShopSmall on Saturday, instead!
- Why #ShopSmall? For one, it’s more environmentally friendly. More reasons here
- #ShopSmall to show your support for keeping jobs in your local community.
- Join @eZangaInc in supporting small businesses! #ShopSmall this Saturday!
- @eZangaInc supports #netDE. Do you #ShopSmall and support your local community?
Are you supporting local businesses this holiday season? Share how you’re doing your part in the comments below!
via Business 2 Community http://www.business2community.com/small-business/5-reasons-shop-small-saturday-0694875?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=5-reasons-shop-small-saturday
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