When it comes to buying Christmas gifts, Amazon has everything you can imagine...except for unique character! Some would say it's got all of the charm of a block of wood. This year, consider a much more colorful option: Small Business Saturday! A little local spending can go a long way toward keeping Main Street alive and well!
Here are Five Fast Facts about Small Business Saturday:
- 🚀 Early Days - American Express launched Small Business Saturday in 2010 to encourage holiday shopping at local small businesses on the Saturday after Thanksgiving (it's November 28 this year). The Small Business Administration endorsed it in 2011, and now all 50 states partake. Think Black Friday's cousin, minus the scuffle over a discounted TV.
- 🏠 Bring It Home - Wisconsin has almost 500k small businesses, 99.4% of all businesses in the state. They employ 1.2 million people, or 48% of the state's workforce. That's a whole lot of Wisconsinites earning paychecks from businesses that actually know their customers' names!
- ☕ Where It's Happenin' - Downtowns are a vibrant spot all over the state! There are loads of events, shops with handmade gifts, and unique craft baked goods or drinks. A whopping 90% of businesses in Wisconsin downtowns are locally owned, and almost 70 cents out of every dollar spent is reinvested in your own community.
- 💲 Little Things - Supporting local doesn't require spending big bucks. The average spend per shopper on Small Business Saturday is only $76 - that's less than most people spend on impulse snacks during a Target run!
- 🎄 Make An Outing Of It - Whether it's a bells performance, a tree lighting, or an all out parade, there are local events all around the state. The best part: they're often free, and almost always supported by small businesses. So get out there and have some affordable fun...and maybe grab a treat or gift while you're there!
🔥Bottom line: As we head into prime shopping season, consider skipping the big-box shopping and mouse clicking, discover a local gem, and help Wisconsin's small businesses keep their doors open. Your community gets stronger, local workers keep earning paychecks, and you might even find a gift that doesn't scream, "I bought this last-minute at the only gas station that was open."
What's your favorite local place to shop?
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