As small businesses continue to drive the economy and provide support to many communities, they deserve our appreciation, states Walter E. Dorroh, Jr., president of the LaSalle Economic Development District (LEDD).
LEDD is supporting “Small Business Saturday” which this year is Saturday, November 27th.
First, there was Black Friday. Then, there was Cyber Monday. Now, there’s Small Business Saturday, a day for all the small businesses that fuel the economy and invigorate our community. Shoppers can show their support by pledging to shop small on November 28. If millions of people shop small, it will be huge.
A new survey by the National Federation of Independent Business and American Express shows that many small-business owners will start holiday promotions earlier and invest in promotion and sales on Small Business Saturday.
The day was created to help bring consumers through the doors of small local merchants and keep communities strong. Small businesses often hire locally. They frequently support their communities by sponsoring local events, teams or charities. Small businesses are a critical part of the state and national economy.
This is also the 59th anniversary of National Small Business Week and Dorroh urges local citizens to join in celebrating the week by shopping locally.
This nationwide initiative aims to drive shoppers to local, independently owned merchants – the backbone of the economy. Small businesses produce 64 percent of net private sector job growth nationally.
A number that hits closer to home is that 96 percent of small businesses support their local communities through donating to local causes and participating in community projects.
The privately owned, often family-owned, businesses throughout the state and our area are a great source of pride for many Louisianians. In this unsteady economic climate, local businesses are especially important to the vitality of many areas throughout the Bayou State. In addition to this, our small businesses add a unique sense of community to their respective towns.
National Small Business Week and especially “Small Business Saturday” is meant to support local businesses, not only locally but also around the country.
