Celebrate Small Business Saturday

Small Business Saturday was established in 2010 to encourage people to shop at their local stores on the Saturday following Thanksgiving. Traditionally, big box stores get all the attention from shoppers and media on Black Friday and Cyber Monday. The presence of Small Business Saturday reminds the holiday shopper that unique gifts can be found close to home.

This is not about steep discounts, but supporting local business owners in the communities we live. These owners depend on sales to fund their children’s dance lessons or college education. These sales directly help your community prosper and are re-circulated locally. Your dollars spent at a local business inject twice as much revenue back into the local economy than a big box retailer. Did you know that shopping locally is also helping the environment? 59% of local makers report they use recycled materials.

Your hometown bank also plays a big role in the success of small businesses. A community bank, like Fortifi, helps keep dollars local for a longer period of time by lending deposits to new and existing local businesses. Without that funding, small business owners would not be able to open their doors to consumers. The community banker understands the local economy and market. Businesses can look to their banker for guidance on issues, good and bad. This strong relationship fosters growth and longevity of the business’s existence.

Get out and experience what the local businesses in our communities have to offer this Small Business Saturday.