Small,
locally-owned businesses have been historically edged out of the community once
the conglomerates come to town. As the backbone of the American economy, small
business owners have been scrambling to maintain their footing in a market that
is dominated by large corporations that can afford to out-price their lesser
competition.
An
unexpected ally in the support of small businesses, the credit card giant
American Express, actually proposed the idea two years ago. By providing
monetary benefits to consumers who frequent small businesses, AMEX created an
incentive to shopping local. The company created online awareness about the new
‘holiday,’ employing the Twitter hash-tag ‘#smallbusinesssaturday’ to generate
a buzz and following that has only grown since its inception.
The
importance of a shopping day dedicated to supporting local businesses cannot be
overstated. The dollars generated at independently owned boutiques and shops
remains in the community’s economy, and serves to support your immediate
surroundings. At a time when the risks potentially outweigh the rewards for operating
a small business, Small Business Saturday provides a tangible boost in revenue
that can prove invaluable.
Seen
as an advocate for the little guy, AMEX reaped benefits as well. American
Express users received $25 off purchases from local businesses, and the
increased usage of their cards on Saturday will reflect in their fourth-quarter
financials. It’s fair to say that everyone was a winner on Small Business
Saturday, but one day a year is not enough. Do your part and support your local
businesses!
-Carter Breazeale
PR/PR Public Relations
