With the busiest shopping weekend of the year set to begin, customers are reminded that there’s more than just Black Friday.
Small Business Saturday, trademarked by American Express, is a movement to bring attention to business in local areas. This year, Small Business Saturday will occur on November 29.
Mick and Paige Whitcomb own the retail and art store Nomad in downtown Springfield. Mick Whitcomb believes the movement is effective in helping small businesses grow throughout the country.
“To try to compete with bigger retailers like you know the big box stores and malls and online retailers, for small businesses like us, so having it being kind of nationwide effort, to focus on Small Business Saturday and through the holidays as a whole really, but the campaign that has come about has really, I think, helped everybody,” Whitcomb said.
Springfield is increasingly becoming a popular spot for small businesses.
While the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce is not an official partner of holiday, it, along with other government offices are promoting the movement. Maggie Kost is with the Chamber.
“Small business in general makes up more than 80 percent of the Chamber’s membership and more than 80 percent of the businesses in Springfield, so any event that promotes small business, like Small Business Saturday, is strictly important to us.”
Not only are local retail purchases important to the local economy, consumers are urged to buy food items from local farmers and grocers as well.
For listings of locally owned retailers, restaurants, and more, visit springfieldmo.org.