Governor proclaims November 25 Small Business Saturday
The state’s leading small-business association thanked Gov. Jay Inslee for his official proclamation designating November 25, 2017 as Small Business Saturday, part of a national effort to draw some holiday shopping out of the malls and onto to the Main Streets of America.
As the governor noted in his proclamation, “Small businesses are the backbone of our economy, and the glue that holds communities together—creating jobs, boosting the local economy, and preserving our neighborhoods. Small Business Saturday is a day dedicated to supporting small businesses on the busiest shopping weekend of the year.”
According to a survey by NFIB and American Express, shoppers spent $15.4 billion last year at locally-owned stores and restaurants on Small Business Saturday, which was a 13 percent increase over the previous year. As the governor pointed out in his proclamation, “Washington’s small businesses employ more than half of the state’s private workforce, 1.3 million workers in Washington … businesses with fewer than 100 employees are the largest share of business employment.”
In an analysis of various studies, the American Independent Business Alliance summarized that on average, 48 percent of each purchase at local independent businesses was recirculated locally, compared to less than 14 percent of purchases at chain stores. “In other words, going local creates more local wealth and jobs,” said the AMIBA study.
“The morning after Thanksgiving may be the traditional start of the holiday shopping season, but more and more shoppers are bypassing the malls to find unique gifts and support their friends and neighbors on Small Business Saturday,” said Patrick Connor, Washington state director for the National Federation of Independent Business, which is co-sponsoring the awareness campaign along with American Express.
– National Federation of Independent Business/Washington
Six tips for a successful Small Business Saturday
The morning after Thanksgiving may be the traditional start of the holiday shopping season, but more and more shoppers are bypassing the malls to find unique gifts and support their friends and neighbors on Small Business Saturday.
Last year, shoppers spent $15.4 billion at locally-owned stores and restaurants on Small Business Saturday, which was a 13 percent increase over the previous year, according to a survey by NFIB and American Express. Here are six tips for making 2017 Small Business Day successful.
* Remind shoppers that you sell merchandise they can’t find anyplace else. Sixty-one percent of shoppers say they shop at small businesses to find “unique products,” according to NFIB.
* Showcase the merchandise that would make a great gift. Group items on a table with a sign saying it would be the perfect gift for Dad or a great gift for the grandparents. Restaurants can offer Small Business Saturday specials and gift cards.
* Steal a page from the Black Friday playbook and offer doorbusters. Chain stores know a great way to drive shoppers to their stores is by offering special deals at different times of the day. There’s no reason a small business can’t do the same thing.
* Stay on top of your social media. If you’re on Facebook or Twitter or Instagram or Pinterest, post often and promote any Small Business Saturday deals. Use the hashtags #ShopSmall and #SmallBizSaturday so shoppers can find you easily.
* Partner with other merchants to buy advertising promoting the neighborhood as a shopping destination or team up with other businesses on in-store promotions. For example, if they buy a pair of shoes here, let them know they can save 10 percent on socks next door.
* Promote the event to your regular customers. Put a sign in your shop and flyers in bags reminding folks to come back the Saturday after Thanksgiving for special deals.
– NFIB
