November 25 is Small Business Saturday

Shopping small can have a big impact.

This Saturday, November 25, is Small Business Saturday.

A counterpart to Black Friday and Cyber Monday, Small Business Saturday was founded by American Express in 2010 to encourage support for small businesses after the great recession. While Black Friday and Cyber Monday traditionally feature big box and e-commerce stores, Small Business Saturday encourages holiday shoppers to support local brick-and-mortar businesses. It has been cosponsored by the U.S. Small Business Administration since 2011.

According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, small businesses make up 99.9 percent of American businesses. With more than 33 million small businesses across the country, shopping small is easy – and powerful.

Last year’s Small Business Saturday raised approximately $17.9 billion, according to American Express. Seventy-two percent of shoppers strongly agree that they will continue to shop small.

Small businesses not only boast one-of-a-kind items, but also help stimulate the local economy.

When you shop small, the sales tax money is used to support public schools, parks, roads and fund public service workers. Additionally, small businesses create local jobs. The U.S. Small Business Administration cites that 47.1 percent of United States employees work for a small business.

Innovation lies at the heart of entrepreneurship. Small businesses are constantly working to find ways to stand out from their big box competitors, which can lead to unique products, inventive solutions and personalized experiences.

“Generally, the small business is run by the owner,” says Hikia “Coco” Dixon, owner of Coco’s Selfie Space in Downtown Cleveland. “So, you’re going to get first class all the way. You’re not going to get that at a big box store.”

Don’t let the word ‘small’ deceive you; starting a business is far from a small endeavor.  When you shop small, you’re turning an aspiring entrepreneur’s dream into reality.

For more information on supporting small businesses: cose.org.

For more on the featured businesses:

Coco’s Selfie Space — 530 Euclid Ave., Cleveland

Made Cleveland — 1807 Coventry Rd., Cleveland Heights

Banyan Tree — Multiple locations

Malley’s Chocolates — Multiple locations

Room Service — 3444 Tuttle Rd., Shaker Heights