Every year many shoppers look forward to Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving and considered the first day of the traditional Christmas shopping season.
It’s a day annually retailers will offer reduced prices on a wide variety of merchandise. In recent years, the sales often start on Thanksgiving or in the wee hours the next day, and in some cases even before that.
Another special shopping day is Small Business Saturday, which is on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Many locally owned stores will be offering discounts, special promotions and activities on this annual shopping day, one designed to to celebrate and support small businesses and all they do for their communities.
Small Business Saturday was created in 2010 by American Express as they encourages spending with their furnished credit cards, and the annual day was officially cosponsored by the Small Business Administration in 2011, growing it even larger.
The Saturday after Thanksgiving has become an important part of small businesses’ busiest season as local businesses must compete with chain stores and Amazon to survive.
Projected spending last year among U.S. consumers who shopped at independent retailers and restaurants on Small Business Saturday last year exceeded $23.3-billion according to Small Business Saturday Consumer Insights Survey commissioned by American Express.
Today, there are more than 32-million independent businesses nationwide, according to the Small Business Administration.
Whether it’s Folsom, El Dorado Hills, Rancho Cordova or others nearby, get out there on this day if you can and show some support for our local business community, keep our tax dollars local and let’s keep small business ownership strong in our communities for years to come.
Above photo: Dorothea’s Shoppe in Historic Folsom is one of many local businesses that see an increase in shoppers on Small Business Saturday.