Why #shopsmall today? Or any other day?
1. Small is the new black
Now in its fourth year, Small Business Saturday is catching on as a
positive cultural trend. Research indicates that shoppers who had heard
of Small Business Saturday spent $5.5 billion that day last year, and 77% plan to shop at small businesses this Saturday.
2. They’ve put out the welcome mat for you
This year,67% of all businesses will offer discounts on Small Business Saturday, while more than a third will offer coupons for future offers or discounts.
3. It’s friendly
At a small business, chances are you’ll be waited on by the owner, a
member of their family, or someone who reports directly to the owner.
This proximity to the boss makes for better customer service – something
that can be hard to find at larger stores.
4. Your local economy will benefit
Shopping small creates and supports local jobs. Each time you
purchase a product or a service on Main Street, you are helping to pay
the salary of a friend or neighbor.
5. The national economy will benefit
Historically, two-thirds of net new jobs in this country are created
by small business. Small firms are also responsible for over half of
national GDP. There’s nothing small about that.
6. Small businesses need some good news
Small Business optimism is persistently, historically low. A holiday season that serves up
robust sales will be good for confidence – something that is essential
for business growth and job creation.
7. Sometimes less is more
Let’s be honest – sometimes you’d rather have to choose between a
handful of television sets or warm boots instead of a warehouse full of
them. Your local retailers have done some of the legwork for you –
offering a select inventory aimed at matching what you’re looking for in
terms of quality and value.
8. They’ve earned your trust
A Gallup poll earlier
this year found that the American people rank small business second
only to the U.S. Military when it comes to institutions in which they
have confidence.
9. Small business gives back
Research shows that over 90% of small business owners contribute each year to their communities through volunteering, in-kind
contributions, and/or direct cash donations. That means your purchase
of a good or service at a small business is a great way to “pay it
forward.”
10. It’s good to be part of the dream
Small-business owners are the embodiment of the American Dream;
supporting them makes you part of the dream, and that’s a good thing.
Dan Danner is president and CEO of the NFIB (National Federation of Independent Business)
.PNG)
In the days before firehouses even existed, Dalmatians were bred and
trained for the specific purpose of preventing highway robbery.
Dalmatians, or "coach dogs," ran alongside of horse-drawn stagecoaches,
and acted as a buffers and as bodyguards to ward off robbers, also known
as highwaymen, who attempted to ambush the carriages and, quite
literally, to lighten their loads.
