The JCBA is a proud supporter of Small Business Saturday, which is celebrated every year on the Saturday after Thanksgiving.
Small businesses are a big deal for communities such as our own. We know that small businesses often provide a more distinctive selection of merchandise than their larger counterparts. We also know that the customer service at our small businesses is likely to be second to none. But what is sometimes easy to forget is how much our small business community gives back.
Small businesses provide us and our families with jobs. In addition, they also practice what they preach by shopping small themselves – small businesses are more likely to spend their money with other small, local businesses than their larger counterparts. Each dollar you spend at independent businesses returns three times more money to your local economy than one spent at a chain (almost 50 times more than buying from an online mega-retailer). Small businesses are also generous; they donate more than twice as much per sales dollar to local non-profits, events, and teams compared to big businesses.
But perhaps most importantly is that our local businesses are a big part of giving Jersey County a unique sense of place. They help to make sure that Jersey County stands out from the crowd in an increasingly homogenized world. This individual character is not only good for our local economy but also good for business – whether you are a small independent retailer, a large store, or a franchise owner, you stand to benefit.
So on your next round of errands, please try to shop small. Because its good for businesses of all sizes to have a diverse, and distinctive business community. And that’s a message worth remembering year-round.
