Shop Mom and Pop

With the holidays upon us, it's that time of year again when we reflect on that which we are thankful for, which naturally brings feelings of gratitude and generosity. A common tradition in American culture, is to buy gifts for others during this time to show your appreciation.

Arguably one of the biggest shopping days of the year, in 2023, over $9.8 Billion was spent on Black Friday in online sales alone.¹ This year, I would encourage you to think about the impact you could make if you chose to shop locally, rather than supporting large chain retailers. 

Small businesses are the backbone of the American and global economies. In fact, over 99% of American companies are small businesses, and there are currently around 400 million small businesses worldwide.²

When you shop local, your dollars stay in the community, build relationships with neighbors and strengthen the fabric of the local economy. The family who owns the business reaps the rewards of being able to support themselves and their employees because of your patronage. 

How can you celebrate the small businesses that make up your community?

• Create your own “small business crawl” and explore the small businesses that make up your community. You may find a new favorite place to shop.
• Purchase gift cards from your favorite local spot for yourself, family, and friends.
• Leave reviews online to help others find your favorite small businesses.
• Celebrate your favorite small businesses on social media using the hashtag #SupportSmallBusiness.

This time of year gives us the opportunity to recognize the hard work and devotion that millions of business owners put in every day. I hope you use this holiday season as a chance to connect with the small businesses that keep America running, and shop Mom and Pop. 

^{1. Wisernotify.com/blog/black-friday-stats/, 2024
2. Findstack.com, September 6, 2022}

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