Last weekend, the craziest shopping day of the year arrived: Black Friday. Maybe you rushed to your favorite store early in the morning, before the sun came up, or maybe you decided to skip.
If you skipped Black Friday, I hope you did not consider skipping Small-Business Saturday!
Sure, consumerism, consumerism….but let’s face it, you are still going to buy things for Christmas and the rest of your life. Right now, especially around the holidays, you cannot escape consumerism. However, you can contribute to consumerism in better ways, such as participating in Small-Business Saturday (or supporting small business year-round).
By shopping at small businesses, you are supporting jobs and lifestyles. It is small businesses that create the most job opportunities yearly, and they are regular people like you and me. Shopping at small businesses helps to create even more jobs, and your contributions are helping the regular Joes like us, not the big businessmen.
Shopping at local small businesses also keeps the money local, and in your community. Those taxes go to the betterment of the neighborhood, such as for schools and libraries.
Also, the products at small businesses are usually unique. Small community stores offer those one-of-a-kind gifts that you cannot find anywhere else-definitely making for a special Christmas gift for someone!
If you missed out on Small-Business Saturday, it is never too late. You can shop at a local small business any day. Go Christmas shopping at that little craft place down the street from you, and stop by the small family-owned restaurant for a bite to eat after!
Viewpoints Editor
Jill Augustine