Each year around Thanksgiving, we hear “shop local” in conjunction with Small Business Saturday (Nov. 26 this year). But what does that mean? I think we can all agree that each of us should shop local when we can and support the people who own businesses right here in our community. But let me take that a step further.
When you spend $100 at a locally owned business, that $100 is not just impacting that one business — there’s also a trickle-down effect. The people running the local business probably own or rent a local property. They pay property taxes to support our city and county. They have insurance policies from a local insurance company. They purchase office and other supplies. They take clients to lunch or coffee at local restaurants, and their customers fill our local hotel rooms. They may buy small gifts for their employees from other local businesses.
The list goes on and on.
Now consider that few of these community benefits come from an online purchase from a national retailer.
But also consider these local dollars spent by local business owners can help keep the lights on at our local museums and libraries. They also aid and support local charitable organizations and keep the offering plates at our churches full.
In today’s world of convenience where you can shop on Amazon and other online businesses with the click of a button, it can take a little more planning and effort to shop local, but in return, you’re providing for economic growth in your own community.
We’re one of those small businesses. We’ve been here in Greenville for more than 23 years. We’ve stood the test of time. But without the support of Greenville’s small businesses, we wouldn’t be able to provide our community products like the Greenville Journal you’re holding in your hands.
If we don’t support our local businesses, some may not survive the coming year. We all face a changing economy with talks of recession, inflation and rising costs. At Community Journals, we are thankful for our readers for supporting locally owned businesses in our community.
Please join me in supporting our small businesses right here in Greenville and our surrounding communities not just on this coming Saturday but every day throughout the year.
Founded by American Express in 2010 and officially cosponsored by SBA since 2011, Small Business Saturday has become an important part of small businesses’ busiest shopping season. Reported spending among U.S. consumers who shopped at independent retailers and restaurants on Small Business Saturday reached an estimated $23.3 billion last year, according to the 2021 Small Business Saturday Consumer Insights Survey.
