All over the country, small businesses are getting ready to welcome people into their stores on Small Business Saturday. Nov. 24 is a day to celebrate and support small businesses and all they do for their communities. The date for Small Business Saturday falls into the traditionally heaviest shopping time of the year, right between Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
Studies have shown that independent local merchants return 68% of their revenue to the community. Big box stores and national chains, by contrast, return between 13% and 43%. Out-of-town websites contribute nothing to the local community.
Last year over one hundred million people decided to “shop small” on Small Business Saturday. This year, American Express and the Small Business Saturday team want to make an even bigger impact on small businesses.
The movement started with American Express, which offers card members a $25 statement credit when they shop a qualifying small business on Nov. 24.
Ace Hardware as a company has gotten involved in promoting Small Business Saturday.
“We’re small businesses,” said Merrill Ace Hardware owner Tim Haight. “A lot of Ace stores like ours contribute a lot to their communities.”
Haight encourages shoppers to support Merrill’s small local merchants on Small Business Saturday and throughout the year.
“Don’t forget the stores that are continuously helping out your community,” he said.