The majority of retailers are small businesses, with more than 98 percent of all retail companies employing fewer than 50 people. Considering the impact small businesses have on the American economy, Small Business Saturday is a great way to celebrate and support local retailers.
Since its inception in 2010, Small Business Saturday has become a big event for many small retailers. NRF forecasts that out of the 71 million U.S. consumers hoping to shop the Saturday after Thanksgiving, 76 percent say they will do so specifically to support Small Business Saturday.
A quarter of holiday shoppers say they plan to purchase holiday items from local and small businesses this year. Learn more about consumer holiday spending.
Many retailers across the country are using the buzz of the day to create a special experience for shoppers with in-store entertainment and community events. Small businesses in Old Town Alexandria, outside Washington, D.C., have joined together to offer a Santa Stroll, caroling, free gift wrapping and special deals, and Fort Wayne, Ind., small businesses are enticing shoppers to shop on Small Business Saturday with a Holly Trolley Shopping event.
While shoppers may take advantage of Small Business Saturday festivities, they’re also shopping small throughout the season. According to NRF’s October 2017 holiday survey, a quarter of holiday shoppers are planning to do their holiday shopping at local and small businesses.
As retailers prepare to welcome shoppers for Small Business Saturday, we’re looking back at some of the great small businesses we featured this year. For more small business insights, check out the stories below — and don’t forget to shop small this weekend.
- The secret sauce for small biz success
- S3 Active’s journey from pop-up to permanent store-front
- Growing a small business one scoop at a time
Are you shopping at your favorite small business this Saturday? Tweet your stories at @NRFnews using #ShopSmall and #SmallBizSat.