NOVEMBER 12, 2014
Merchants, shoppers can get head start on Small Business Saturday activities
Sandwiched between Black Friday and Cyber Monday is Small Business Saturday, a national program to encourage people to shop local. Small Business Saturday takes place Nov. 29.
Merchants – Learn ways to better promote your businesses for Small Business Saturday. Visit www.facebook.com/SmallBusinessSaturday.
Shoppers –American Express is giving a $10 statement credit to card members who spend at least $10 Saturday, Nov. 29, at a qualifying small business. Learn how you can participate. In addition, shoppers will be eligible to win a $25 American Express gift card.
Why shop small?
Dollars spent locally generate sales tax that supports municipal services residents count on – like police and fire protection, transportation, recreation programs and libraries. Local First Arizona, a nonprofit organization that supports and promotes local businesses in Arizona, reports that for every $100 spent at locally-owned businesses, $73 remains in the local economy. Compare that with only $43 at non-local businesses.
According to the Small Business Administration, small businesses make up:
99.7 percent of U.S. employer firms
64 percent of net new private-sector jobs
49.2 percent of private-sector employment
42.9 percent of private-sector payroll
46 percent of private-sector output
43 percent of high-tech employment
98 percent of firms exporting goods
33 percent of exporting value
