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Small Business Saturday is November 30

By: J. Werner
| Published 11/26/2013

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THE WOODLANDS, Texas -- ‘Small Business Saturday’ is November 30, the Saturday following Thanksgiving and ‘Black Friday.’ The concept was initiated in 2010, to patronize small community businesses by encouraging shoppers to spend some of their holiday money in the local brick-and-mortar stores.

Shopping local supports neighbors and the local economy.


Conceived and promoted by American Express in a nationwide campaign, the ‘Small Business Saturday’ slogan has practically become a mantra for small business owners. It takes a savvy shopper to prorate their funds in such a way that they capitalize on the Black Friday in-store specials, the ‘Cyber Monday’ online savings (hosted the Monday after Thanksgiving), and still have something left for the individually-owned businesses.

This isn’t nearly as difficult to do in The Woodlands where the number of small businesses outweigh the number of big box stores. Some of the oldest, individually-owned businesses survived the economic downturn and are now thriving. In a close knit community, residents want to support their friends and neighbors’ businesses.

“Supporting local businesses and farmers creates a sustainable society,” said Lorraine Richardson, the founder and promoter of the Feast of Artisans Farmers Market, which sets up at The Woodlands Mall on Wednesdays 4 - 8 p.m., through December 18. “It stimulates the local economy, and the consumer gets fresh, quality products.”

To assist shoppers with locating the small businesses in their area a smartphone app was created called LookLocal. The free app provides a list of the retailers and specialty stores that are locally-owned businesses. Also refer to Woodlands Online’s specials and coupons for local savings opportunities.

The general consensus for Small Business Saturday is to allocate 50 dollars for purchases in three independently-owned, small businesses. The 3/50 Project was devised by Cinda Baxter, the national spokesperson for the Small Business Saturday its first year. For every $100 spent in locally owned stores, $68 is returned to the community through taxes, payroll, and other expenditures. Only $43 remains in the community for the same amount spent in national chain stores. When spent with online merchants, nothing is returned to the local economy.

Make a plan to shop three of your favorite local, small businesses this Saturday. What goes around, comes around.

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