This week, after all the turkey, stuffing and pie have been gobbled up, many people’s thoughts will shift toward holiday shopping and Black Friday sales. As you prepare to do your shopping we encourage you to shop locally, and this weekend on Small Business Saturday, support the many small businesses that are found around Bradford and the Twin Tiers region.
American Express founded Small Business Saturday in 2010, encouraging people to Shop Small and show love for their favorite local places on the busiest shopping day of the year.
Small businesses like those in Pennsylvania and the Southern Tier of New York help make communities thrive. According to data from the Office of Advocacy’s 2023 Small Business Profiles, which are annual analyses of each state’s small business activities, there are hundreds of thousands of small businesses in operation across the two states, which make up more than 90% of all businesses.
From local restaurants to shops down the street, small businesses have created major impacts across all communities. Pennsylvania and New York have millions of small business employees, meaning a high percentage of all employees in the states work for small businesses.
Small businesses help ensure local economies stay strong and vibrant. For every $1 spent at small businesses, 67 cents stays in the community, and businesses often stretch that dollar by banking locally, using local accountants, attorneys and investors and other professionals, buying as often as possible from local suppliers and supporting their fellow businesses.
The effect of shopping locally stretches farther than one might realize. When residents don’t support local businesses that business can’t afford to stay open and it is often difficult to replace it, because when future store owners look to open a business in Bradford, Eldred or Smethport the first thing they look at is how successful similar or previous businesses are.
So, on the big day, invite your family and friends to Shop Small and show love for their favorite places. Because when small businesses succeed we all do.
