Sandwiched between Black Friday and Cyber Monday, Small Business Saturday began in 2010 as a way to help local stores and restaurants recover from the Great Recession. It has quickly transformed into a Thanksgiving weekend tradition, becoming one of the busiest sales seasons for small business owners nationwide.
Small Business Saturday is Nov. 25 this year and the Queen Creek Chamber of Commerce is reminding residents to "shop small and shop local this holiday season" and year-round.
Belonging to a community of businesses, chamber members are always supporting one another locally and they are hoping residents will join them, especially during this busy shopping weekend, to boost the local economy.
"Shop at a local boutique for holiday gifts, purchase a gift card to a local restaurant, buy a membership, book a spa treatment or even gift an oil change," they said.
According to Local First Arizona – founded in 2003 as a community and economic development organization working to strengthen local economies – their studies show that:
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For every $100 spent at a local business, $45 stays in the community, while only $13 does when you buy at a chain store.
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For every two jobs that a big-box store creates, three jobs are lost from local businesses.
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For every $10 million in sales, Amazon will support 14 jobs, while independent retailers will support 110 jobs.
"When you're looking to surprise your loved ones this holiday season, turn to locally owned businesses to find the most unique gifts and delicious foods," said Sophia Lovasz, Local First Arizona director of retail entrepreneurship. "Data shows that companies owned by Arizonans are more likely to create jobs, keep prices affordable and give back to the community. Locally made products also help the environment by reducing shipping waste and providing higher quality.
"Shifting even a small amount of our personal spending to local businesses can make a huge difference. It's as easy as purchasing a pair of earrings at a boutique instead of a national retailer or reaching for locally made Shamrock milk at the grocery store for your eggnog," Lovasz continued. "Many times you'll find that products and services provided by local business owners are more affordable, unique and memorable, especially during the holidays."
Valley residents can find where to shop locally at these websites:
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Local First Business Directory for independent stores near you can be found HERE.
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Shop Local First Marketplace for Arizona-made gifts online and ship anywhere can be found HERE.
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Good Food Finder for locally grown foods to go with holiday meals can be found HERE.
Visit localfirstaz.com for more information and a directory of locally-owned businesses.
For 80 years, National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) has been the voice of small business, advocating on behalf of America’s small and independent business owners.
“Small business owners are our neighbors. They’re the folks who employ our friends, sponsor our kids’ sports teams and donate to our local charities. Though they face many of the same challenges as large companies, small businesses operate on infamously thin margins,” said Chad Heinrich, NFIB state director. “Without our support, some of our favorite boutiques, restaurants and shops won’t be around next year. We can’t afford to let that happen. Small businesses are a large part of our economy and keep our communities thriving. This holiday season, and year-round, remember to shop small and shop local.”
