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Go Shopping this Small Business Saturday
Special to The Truth
For many holiday shoppers,
Black Friday marks the official kickoff to the gift-buying
season. But the following day, November 28, is Small
Business Saturday, and can be a more satisfying way to shop
for gifts for loved ones.
At a time of year where
big box retailers offer deep discounts, this annual
opportunity to show local businesses your support is also a
great way to score unique items while benefitting the local
economy.
Here are some retail
trends and other things to consider as you shop at your
favorite small businesses.
The Local Economy
By supporting small
businesses, you are supporting local job creation. In fact,
small firms accounted for over three-fifths of the new jobs
created between 1993 and mid-2013, according to government
statistics. With the National Federation of Independent
Business (NFIB) and American Express reporting that $14.3
billion was spent with independent retailers and restaurants
on Small Business Saturday in 2014, spending your holiday
shopping budget locally strengthens Main Street and can help
your community’s economy thrive.
New Technologies
A common stereotype of mom
and pop stores are that they are antiquated and overpriced,
but many small businesses are adopting new technologies to
streamline their operations; which can be an important
consideration for shoppers in a hurry or on a budget.
For example, new Android
based point of sale terminals, such as the ergonomically
designed V-R7000 and V-R7100 from Casio have widescreen LCD
touch panels, and an intuitive, high-resolution interface
for faster sales and fewer transactional snafus. For
instance, these terminals come equipped with a battery to
protect memory data in the event of a power failure, and
offer efficient store operations by eliminating common
hardware problems experienced with PC based hardware.
Such information terminals
are helping to transform retail management by offering small
businesses a chance to better compete against their big box
counterparts.
Exclusive Items
Make a splash with
one-of-a-kind and unforgettable gifts this season. From the
gift shop with handmade crafts made by neighborhood artisans
to the bookshop selling the works of local authors, shopping
at small businesses means encountering items on sale that
you won’t find elsewhere.
If you are shopping for
someone who seemingly has everything, going local can help
you get inspired.
Consider doing your
holiday shopping a bit differently this year, by making a
point of supporting small, local businesses on Small
Business Saturday and beyond.
Courtesy StatePoint
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