Small Business Saturday: a chance to boost your community by shopping local

SEATTLE — As the frenzy of Black Friday fades, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) is urging shoppers to save some energy and cash for Small Business Saturday.

This lesser-known but significant event encourages consumers to explore and support small, local, and independent businesses.

Cameron Nakashima from the BBB explained, “Small Business Saturday was created in 2010 by American Express and it encourages us to celebrate local businesses at a time when many of us are focused more on national chains. So far, it has made a big economic impact for small businesses and for their communities.”

According to American Express, for every dollar spent at a small business in the United States, approximately 68 cents is reinvested back into the local economy. The BBB is keen on promoting this initiative, as many of the businesses they work with and accredit are small local shops that deserve recognition and support.

To make the most of Small Business Saturday, the BBB suggests looking up events and deals in your area through the Small Business Saturday website or by visiting your local chamber of commerce or merchants’ association.

“Invite your friends and family. Unlike Black Friday, this isn’t a blitz – so plan to take your time at the stores and make it ‘a whole thing’ and invite a friend or family member to join,” Nakashima said.

Additionally, the BBB encourages patrons to not only shop small but also “eat small” by visiting independently owned-restaurants, bakeries, and coffee shops. While out and about, shoppers should look for the BBB seal in store windows as a mark of trust.

For those who prefer online shopping, the BBB offers tips to support local businesses digitally. Shoppers can use location filters in search engines like Google or Bing by entering “[business type] near me” to find nearby results. On platforms like Facebook Marketplace and Etsy, filters can narrow results to a specific radius from home.

Nakashima also recommended using BBB.org to search local businesses and review their reputations.