Small Business Saturday will be celebrated on Nov. 30 this year, and small businesses in New Jersey and across the nation have been gearing up to boost sales and connect with customers.
Every year on the first Saturday following Thanksgiving, holiday shoppers are urged to “Gift Big and Shop Local” to support the 34 million U.S. small businesses that drive the nation’s economy and provide jobs for millions of Americans.
Since American Express launched this event 15 years ago to underscore the importance of small businesses to communities, holiday shoppers have spent over $200 billion at their independently owned neighborhood stores on Small Business Saturday.
The U.S. Small Business Administration and American Express are offering small businesses free marketing materials and a downloadable social media guide with images, hashtags and suggested posts in both English and Spanish and Spanish that can be used before Saturday and on Saturday itself to encourage shoppers to #ShopSmall and support neighborhood businesses.
Small businesses are a crucial part of local economies and communities, responsible for over 40% of America’s economic output and two-thirds of net new jobs, according to the SBA.
“Small Business Saturday has become America’s call to action to support the backbone of our economy and heart of our communities – our small businesses,” said SBA Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman. “America’s incredible entrepreneurs create jobs, drive innovation, and strengthen our communities, shaping the unique character of neighborhoods across America.
“This year, as we continue to enjoy an unprecedented Small Business Boom, I encourage everyone to ‘Gift Big and Shop Local’ by supporting local businesses and the millions of hardworking Americans behind them,” Guzman said.
Nearly 20 million new small business applications, driven mostly from women and people of color, have been filed nationwide during the past four years, Guzman said.
Small Business Saturday also kicks off the SBA’s Season of Small Business campaign, which continues through December and encourages consumers to support small businesses throughout the holiday season.
