Head Uptown Nov. 25 to support Small Business Saturday

Yeah, there’s that little thing happening on TV Saturday, called The Game.

But small businesses across the area and across the country are still counting on big returns Nov. 25 from Small Business Saturday. That’s certainly the case in Westerville’s historic business district, Uptown.

Small Business Saturday is meant to celebrate the large part role small businesses play in anchoring their neighborhoods. The annual shopping event falls on the Saturday after Thanksgiving each year. It was created by American Express and the Main Street America organization in 2010. (Uptown Westerville Inc is a Main Street America member.)

“Small businesses keep our communities vibrant,” American Express Senior Vice President Jessica Ling said in a released statement. “They are the lifeblood of our communities that help create jobs, boost the economy and enrich our neighborhoods.”

“Small businesses keep our communities vibrant. They are the lifeblood of our communities that help create jobs, boost the economy and enrich our neighborhoods.”

– Jessica Ling

American Express

 

Since 2010, many small businesses have grown to count on Small Business Saturdays to put sales over the top in the current year, and see them through into the new year.

Since the day’s launch, American Express estimates it has contributed $184 billion to small businesses in total.

Forbes magazine reported that last year, Small Business Saturday accounted for $18 billion in revenues for small, independently-owned retailers and restaurants.

This year, the National Retail Federation predicts that across America, 65.6 million shoppers will turn out for Small Business Saturday. That makes it the nation’s third most important shopping day over the upcoming five-day Thanksgiving weekend after Black Friday (131 million) and Cyber Monday (71 million).

Shoppers have caught on

An American Express survey conducted by Teneo among 1,000 adults found almost 80 percent of respondents agree that small businesses are essential to their communities, and that when they shop at a local small business, they are supporting their communities.

More than half said they prefer to seek out small businesses rather than big retailers for holiday purchases.

“Shoppers seem to be getting the give-back, do-good message about shopping locally,” Forbes reports. “In a YouGov survey conducted for Bankrate among some 2,000 holiday shoppers, more shoppers (61 percent) said they would participate in Small Business Saturday than Black Friday (56 percent).

“And they are inclined to keep up their local business support through the rest of the year, with 72 percent saying they plan to shop small over the season, up from 65 percent last year.”

American Express says shoppers are drawn to small businesses because that’s where they can find unique gift ideas (56 percent) and better customer service (54 percent). In addition, 44 percent of those surveyed said shopping small fosters a sense of community.

Shop Uptown before, after, or during The Game

So this year, Small Business Saturday falls on the same day as the Ohio State-Michigan football game.

Big whoop. You know you still plan to get in your holiday shopping this weekend. The noon game allows time to get to nearby Uptown and patronize local businesses quickly – before, after, or for nonfans (shudder), during The Game.

Uptown Westerville Inc invites you Uptown Nov. 25 for this year’s Small Business Saturday. Please come out to support the local retailers and restaurants that are such a critical part of our wonderful local community!