By Anna Gernant | Communications Coordinator at the Small Business Association of Michigan
As the 2020 holiday season approaches, we’re encouraging you to shop small and support local businesses in your community this year! Although we encourage you to support small businesses year-round, this year is especially important. Small businesses have been hit hard by the pandemic, and so many have already closed their doors indefinitely. But this year, you can make a difference. On Saturday, November 28, join us and participate in Small Business Saturday!
What is Small Business Saturday?
Small Business Saturday was created by American Express 10 years ago in the midst of the recession, and it encourages people to Shop Small and bring more holiday shopping to small businesses. By 2011, the Senate unanimously passed a resolution to officially establish the Saturday after Thanksgiving Small Business Saturday. Once the date was established, American Express made ways for organizations to support their local communities, one of which is by becoming a Neighborhood Champion. As a Neighborhood Champion our goal is to bring our small business community together through awareness and support, which is no truer than now amid a pandemic.
Why is it especially important to support small business this year?
Small businesses have been especially impacted by the pandemic. SBAM conducted three different surveys over the course of 2020 to see how Michigan small businesses have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. In May, one in seven Michigan small businesses were not confident they would survive the pandemic. When surveyed again in June, 60 percent of small businesses anticipated a sales decline greater than 25 percent.
Lost sales volume continues to be the biggest concern for small businesses, and it’s only getting worse. When surveyed a third time in September, nearly one in five small businesses still anticipate significant sales losses, with 17 percent indicating they expect sales to be down by more than 50 percent because of the pandemic.
It’s no surprise the pandemic has been hard on businesses, but small businesses are especially suffering, and they need your support this holiday season.
Where can I start?
There are many ways you can support small businesses at this time. Here are a few ideas to get you started:
- Purchase a gift card from a local business in your community
- Write a review of a small business on Google, Facebook or Yelp
- Share posts from small business accounts on social media
- Order food to-go from your favorite local restaurant
- Spread awareness by using the hashtags #ShopSmall and #ShopLocal on Saturday, November 28th for Small Business Saturday
- Find a small business near you using this American Express tool
Whatever you choose to do, we hope that you intentionally show your support to the small business community this holiday season.
Sources:
SBAM conducted surveys: