Tis the season to Shop Small! Small Business Saturday is right around the corner this year on November 25. According to results from the 2017 Small Business Saturday Consumer Insights Survey, released by the National Federation of Independent Businesses (NFIB) and American Express, show that six in ten (61%) U.S. consumers are aware that Small Business Saturday exists and of those, 82% plan to shop at a small, independently-owned retailer or dine at a small, independently-owned restaurant on that day.
Created by American Express in 2010 as a way to help small businesses get more customers, Small Business Saturday is held annually on the Saturday following Thanksgiving.
“Small Business Saturday provides people an opportunity to discover and celebrate the variety of small businesses that make their communities thrive,” said Elizabeth Rutledge, executive vice president, global advertising and brand management at American Express. “Beyond visiting their favorite go-to spots, shoppers say Small Business Saturday inspires them to visit places they have not been to before and would not have otherwise tried.”
The survey also found that nine in ten U.S. consumers believe Small Business Saturday has had a positive impact on their community and that the day inspires them to explore new independently owned retailers and restaurants
Among those who are aware and who plan to shop on Small Business Saturday this year, 65% say the main reason they will support local, independently-owned retailers and restaurants is because they value the contributions small businesses make to their community.
“Supporting small businesses is critical to the health and livelihood of our national economy and local communities,” said NFIB CEO and President Juanita Duggan. “We are proud to partner with American Express to bring attention to the importance of small business and look forward to another successful Small Business Saturday.”
Consumers are encouraged to show off their favorite independently owned businesses by using #ShopSmall and #SmallBizSat on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
To discover and share the impact shopping small has in your state, visit: http://www.shopsmall.com/mystate.
