Greater awareness than ever of Small Business Saturday this year bodes well for the many local business owners that hope to capture their share of holiday spending dollars, said Nicole Leinbach Reyhle, spokeswoman for the sixth annual national event started by American Express in 2010.
This year, a record 55 percent of consumers are aware of Saturday's campaign known as Small Business Saturday, which immediately follows Black Friday, according to a survey conducted jointly by the National Federation of Independent Businesses and the credit card company. Additionally, 80 percent of U.S. consumers say they're willing to pay slightly more for an item if it's bought from a small, independently-owned retailer versus an online or large retailer, according to the same survey results released earlier this month.
“Every year that has passed, we’ve seen significant growth across consumer participation, spending money as well as communities coming together to be neighborhood champions,” Reyhle said. “More customers are aware of the value of shopping small and how it directly impacts their local community and economy.”
Small business supporters claim more of a dollar spent at locally-owned retailers and service providers is invested back in the community.
Benefits for shoppers to buy local include the uniqueness of products to be found and more personalized customer service, Reyhle said.
Local businesses foster job creation, and generally pay higher wages and benefits to employees, said Fairfield Economic Development Manager Greg Kathman.
“Local businesses provide a distinctive character that you can’t find anywhere else,” Kathman said. “Local ownership of businesses ensures that important decisions are made locally by decision-makers here and they have to live with the consequences of those decisions.”
Front Room on 7th, a variety store in Hamilton on North Seventh Street, celebrated this month its one-year anniversary of opening, said owner Sherri Martin.
The store sells work by local artists, antiques, home decor and chalk type paint by Heirloom Traditions, she said.
“Our store is always changing,” she said.
Stressing the point that shopping local puts money back in the community, Martin said her store, which she opened with business partner Dale Braun, hopes to make an impact in Hamilton.
“We’ve become friends and almost partners with the other local businesses supporting each other,” Martin said. By buying small, “you’re making a difference in somebody’s life that you’re living right beside.”
Here are three ways to celebrate Small Business Saturday in Butler County:
1. First of all, by shopping local. Stores throughout downtown and Main Street Hamilton — including several newly opened storefronts such as Renaissance Fine Arts Supplies — will open for extended hours and offer special discounts.
In Middletown, Flores Leather Works, which sells handmade leather goods, will celebrate the opening of its new Central Avenue store on Small Business Saturday. Previously, husband and wife owners Eber and Rebekah Flores sold items in space at Pendleton Art Center.
Find a local business nearby by entering your ZIP code online at www.shopsmall.org.
2. Also celebrate the holidays. Downtown Middletown will be "action-packed" Saturday, said downtown business owner Linda Moorman and Mallory Greenham, executive director of Downtown Middletown Inc.
Central Avenue and Broad Street in downtown Middletown will be the site of the ninth annual Santa Parade, horse-drawn carriage rides and the unveiling of 12 decorated Christmas trees in local businesses. Shoppers also can ride a carriage from University Boulevard to South Main Street, according to Middletown officials.
However, Hamilton's Christmas Walk falls this year on Sunday, Dec. 6.
3. Arts and crafts. The majority of galleries at Pendleton Art Center, 1105 Central Ave., will be open from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and soon-to-open new café Savorie will sell some baked goods at the center on Saturday, said Suzanne Sizer, marketing director.
Meanwhile, a Shop Small Arts and Crafts Fair will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Mercantile Lofts atrium, 228 High St., in downtown Hamilton, according to Greater Hamilton Chamber of Commerce. Find home-baked and hand-crafted items by local artisans including cookies, breads, cupcakes candles, soaps, knitted and stitched goods, live entertainment and more, according to the chamber.
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