Thanksgiving and Small Business Saturday

From our team at the Department of Commerce, we wish you all a happy Thanksgiving!

I hope you’ll have an opportunity to gather together with family and friends to share in the joy of the holiday season. We have much to be thankful for in our great state and country.

It’s no secret that the day after Thanksgiving starts another phase of the holiday season, and it’s an important time of year for commercial activity all across our economy. “Black Friday” begins the holiday shopping season, and many across our state will be out on the hunt for the best deals on great gift items. Retail sales in the United States during this weekend are stronger than on any other three-day period of the year.

Another important trend that happened about ten years ago is the recognition of “Small Business Saturday.” Shopping small and shopping local has a lot of benefits, and it supports the community in many ways.

Benefits to Shopping Small and Local

First, shopping local provides the greatest multiplier effect for local communities. Studies that have examined this multiplier effect have shown that “independent retailers return more than three times as much money per dollar of sales than chain competitors,” according to the American Independent Business Alliance. This means more of your dollars are retained in that community to provide local jobs and support the growth and vitality of the community.

In addition to supporting local jobs, you also support the entrepreneurs who are taking risks to build an independent business and hire folks from right there in the community. The dollars you spend there support local public services and infrastructure, and they are also more likely to go towards supporting community groups—local businesses donate more per sales dollar to local non-profits, events, educational endeavors and recreational opportunities, like sports teams, compared to national chains.

Local retailers can also provide more expertise and personalized service to help you find what you’re looking for or introduce you to something new that you may not have found elsewhere. You can connect with folks from your community and build lasting relationships that result in more options, diversity and outstanding customer service.

And finally, supporting local business can be an investment in the things that keep communities unique and vibrant. Across the state of Kansas, there are some amazing local retailers that provide products and experiences you can only find there. One-of-a-kind businesses enhance the local character and self-image of communities and create a sense of pride for the folks who live there.

What are some of your favorite local businesses in our state? We’d love to hear from you in comments on our Facebook page or replies to my tweet!

So, as you gear up for holiday shopping, be sure to support the local businesses that help Kansas feel more like home.

Ad Astra Per Aspera,

-DT