NFIB: Small Business Saturday more important than ever this year

Consider supporting local businesses in a variety of ways

Guest Editorial by the National Federation of Independent Business

Small Business Saturday falls on Nov. 28 this year, in one of the most difficult years ever for many locally owned businesses across the state. That’s especially true for restaurants, retail shops and fitness-related businesses. The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) is encouraging New Yorkers to support small businesses in a variety of ways on Small Business Saturday and beyond.

If people prefer not to go out shopping or dining this season, many small businesses offer their products online as well as home delivery or curbside pickup. A small business owner is much more likely to be available by phone if customers have questions. Showing support for local businesses on Small Business Saturday and throughout 2021 will help business owners get past the recent economic downturn and thrive once again.

“Small businesses across the Empire State have navigated unprecedented challenges in 2020,” said NFIB New York State Director Greg Biryla. “COVID-19 and the corresponding economic shutdowns have pushed Main Street to the brink. Sales are down, consumer demand is tenuous, and many businesses are facing new restrictions on operations and capacity.

“Supporting locally owned businesses has a ripple effect across our communities – dollars stay local, jobs and tax bases are supported, and the businesses we know and love are one day closer to making it through this crisis. Shopping local and shopping small has never been more important than now.”

Small Business Saturday has been held the weekend after Thanksgiving since it was created 11 years ago by American Express following the 2009 recession. The event gained in popularity and led to record sales on Small Business Saturday last year. Consumers spent a record $19.6 billion on Small Business Saturday in 2019 according to the Small Business Saturday Consumer Insights Survey conducted by American Express and NFIB.

For more than 75 years, NFIB has been advocating on behalf of America’s small and independent business owners, both in Washington, D.C., and in all 50 state capitals. NFIB is nonprofit, nonpartisan, and member-driven. Since our founding in 1943, NFIB has been exclusively dedicated to small and independent businesses, and remains so today. For more information, visit nfib.com.