Small Business Saturday, Nov. 30, puts the mom-and-pop shops that keep New York City neighborhoods thriving front and center as the holiday shopping season kicks into high gear.
American Express launched Small Business Saturday in 2010 as a campaign to highlight individual, independent store owners nationwide and encourage shoppers to spend some of their holiday money with them rather than larger chains or online commerce. The credit card company offers its cardholders incentives for charging purchases from mom-and-pops on Small Business Saturday; in the last 14 years, American Express says the campaign has helped generate more than $200 billion in sales across the U.S.
But beyond the promotional campaign, Small Business Saturday focuses on independent businesses, some of which have been around for decades, that serve as the heart of the local economy in New York and other cities and towns across America.
According to the NYC Department of Small Businesses, more than 230,000 small businesses employ 3.69 million people across the five boroughs, generating billions of dollars in the local economy every year. The city estimates that for every dollar spent at a small business based in the Big Apple, 70 cents goes right back into the local economy.
If you’re looking for gifts for a special someone or want to find small businesses to support your community this Saturday, visit the city’s Shop Your City map online at shopyourcity.cityofnewyork.us. The map shows all kinds of businesses you can visit and make purchases. You can also find Black-, LGBTQ- and women-owned businesses in the Shop Your City map directory.
The city SBS also offers these tips for supporting small businesses this Saturday and beyond:
• Make a special shopping list: Commit, if you can, to buying half of your holiday shopping list with local small businesses. One fun idea might be creating a “made in New York” basket with favorite items from local vendors.
• Share small business content on social media: Post a picture on Instagram or check in on Facebook when you visit a local small business.
• Leave positive reviews: If you enjoyed your experience at a local small business, find their Yelp or Google page, give them a high mark and take a moment to post what you liked about your visit. This goes a long way toward making these businesses more visible and potential customers interested.
For more information on supporting small businesses in New York City, visit nyc.gov/sbs.
