After Black Friday Comes Small Business Saturday

Launched by American Express in 2010, Small Business Saturday is a day across the nation dedicated to supporting local business, wherever it may be, and Brooklyn is no exception.

Black Friday is a frenetic day dedicated to huge savings and the cultural mentality of “shop ‘til you drop.” It is a day for the mega-companies to attract customers with huge savings. In stark contrast Small Business Saturday is more about attracting new customers to local shops run by families or individuals, often people that are also the customers neighbors.

American Express wanted the emphasis of Small Business Saturday to be on the importance of small businesses to the national economy. Small businesses create jobs, boost the economy, and preserve the special quality of neighborhoods.

“Shopping small represents a tremendous opportunity to go out, receive customer service that is really extraordinary, to find unique gifts that you can’t find anywhere else, or to sit down and get a great home-cooked meal from a local couple that owns a restaurant,” said retail expert Patricia Norins.

“I love to shop in my local stores,” said another person. “I like to support the neighborhood and your neighbors and people trying to make it on their own in New York.”

In 2012 shoppers spent $5.5 billion in local stores around the country on Small Business Saturday.