Sentinel staff report–
The day after Black Friday’s shopping frenzy, small businesses around the country and in Citrus Heights are anticipated to gain an additional financial boost from the eighth annual Small Business Saturday on Nov. 25 — a day designed to encourage consumers to support small, local businesses in their communities.
Locally, Auburn Boulevard Business Association Chairman Richard Hale praised Small Business Saturday as “something we support wholeheartedly,” noting the section of Auburn Boulevard his association represents, from Sylvan Corners to the Roseville border, is made up almost entirely of mom-and-pop businesses.
“Shopping and supporting small businesses is very important for economic growth in our communities, for cities like Citrus Heights,” said Hale, who owns Walt’s Auto Service on Auburn Boulevard.
Citrus Heights Mayor Jeff Slowey told The Sentinel on Monday that he had intentionally put off some of his Christmas shopping for Saturday in order to support the effort, stating “as the mayor, I fully support Small Business Saturday.”
Small Business Saturday began in 2010, quickly receiving official recognition and support from the president on down to governors, mayors, and senators around the country. By 2012, American Express reported an estimated $5.5 billion was spent at small, independent businesses on Small Business Saturday — with that number tripling last year.
The National Federation of Independent Businesses, which now co-sponsors the Day, called last year’s effort “the most successful yet” and reported that an estimated 112 million shoppers participated in Small Business Saturday and spent an estimated $15.4 billion at independent retailers and restaurants.
“Small businesses across the nation are often run by the friends, family, and neighbors that we know well, so supporting them is not only personal but critical to their success,” said NFIB CEO and President Juanita Duggan in a statement following last year’s event. “[Promoting] the awareness and importance of shopping small is something we are very proud of, and look forward to continuing the success of Small Business Saturday.”
Support continues to grow each year as more shoppers become aware of the Day. In 2016, the NFIB reported that 72 percent of consumers were aware of Small Business Saturday, with shoppers stating in a prior survey that their number one reason for participating was “small businesses’ community contributions.”
Although initially launched and heavily promoted by American Express, Small Business Saturday is now sponsored by a wide coalition of organizations and businesses, and the credit card company says its focus is on small businesses rather than AmEx.
“This is frankly the one movement that I will tell you is not limited to American Express,” the company’s CEO and Chairman Kenneth Chenault previously stated in a CBS interview about Small Business Saturday. “You can use any credit card. You can use cash. You can use checks. All we want you to do is to support small businesses in your community.”
*This story was updated to include comments from Mayor Jeff Slowey.