Small Business Saturday will be celebrated Nov. 24.
In 2010, American Express started Small Business Saturday as a way to show support of small businesses throughout the United States.
It is a day for everyone – from the business owners who create jobs to the customers who buy locally – to support small businesses that invigorate the economy and keep communities thriving.
Last year, over 100 million people came out to shop at independently owned small businesses on the day.
With over 80 percent of the businesses in the Waupaca area falling into the category of a small business the Waupaca Area Chamber is on board to help promote this day.
We know how very important small businesses are to our community and our local economy.
Plus that is what we are all about, promoting and helping our businesses succeed.
Shopping local goes a long way to supporting our economy and our businesses.
And you have the choice to strengthen and enrich our community.
When you shop in the Waupaca area, your money re-circulates in our local economy.
A dollar spent in a local restaurant, for example, becomes income for a restaurant employee.
When that employee buys groceries, the dollar becomes income for the grocer, who in turn may spend it to buy clothing or office supplies, or even a new car – in each case, becoming income for other area businesses and residents.
Experts say that every dollar spent locally turns over within the community an average of seven times.
So every $100 spent here at home is actually worth $700 or more to the local economy – and that’s good news for all of us.
Our local businesses, both independents and chains, raise the standard of living in our community, especially when they take their profits and buy products and services from other local businesses, thus creating more and more tax revenues needed for the community to thrive.
Those sales tax dollars go back to our city government and can be used to fund local streets, parks, schools, fire and police protection and to fund economic development efforts.
Our local businesses also donate to local charities including churches, softball leagues, arts, cultural and historical events and projects.
Making the decision to buy local is a personal commitment to reinvest your purchasing dollars into your own community.
A mere 5 percent shift in purchases back to our local community would have the same impact as bringing a new industry to the area.
We are talking about millions of dollars of local impact.
It starts with our own commitment to support our businesses.
And Chamber member businesses are often the very ones that are most supportive of the local community.
You have the power to make a difference and why not start on Nov. 24.