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Small businesses are woven into the fabric of our daily lives here in Southern West Virginia. Whether you always swing by The Chocolate Moose for coffee in the mornings, grab your lunch at Pies & Pints, or shop the boutiques in our charming downtowns, chances are you’ve spent quite a bit of time (and money) at a local institution.
And this year during the holidays, it’s especially important to support those small businesses.
Small Business Saturday was created by American Express in 2010 to support independently owned businesses and eCommerce shops. According to bigcommerce.com, small businesses make up 99% of all businesses in the United States and employ 47.5% of American workers. Want another staggering statistic? 50% of those small businesses don’t stay open for longer than 5 years. Small Business Saturday was created to directly support small businesses in communities across America, as a way to highlight them during the most popular days of the year to shop for holiday gifts. The U.S. Small Business Administration reports that in 2019, Americans spent nearly $20 billion on Small Business Saturday alone!
The COVID-19 pandemic has hit small business especially hard, and many are reporting significant revenue loss. According to American Express, 62% of small businesses say they need to see consumer spending return to pre-COVID levels by the end of the year in order to keep their doors open.
So why shop small? Here are a few good reasons.
According to the Seattle Good Business Network, small businesses donate 250% more than larger businesses to local non-profits and community causes. So when you spend your money at a business that’s owned by local folks instead of a corporate chain, most of it stays in your region.
When you choose to buy a latte from the independently owned coffee shop or shop for holiday gifts at a local boutique, you’re supporting people directly by choosing their business. Not only are you supporting their livelihood, but you’re also supporting anyone else they may employ.
Do you have hard to shop for people on your list? Or maybe you’re sick of getting gadgets that everyone else has? Shop a local business or independent eCommerce shop – chances are, you’ll find something different that you wouldn’t be able to find on Amazon.
Southern West Virginia is full of small businesses! Where is your favorite place to shop small in the New River Gorge region?
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