Shop Local on Small Business Saturday

Shopping local is a major contributing factor to your local economy’s health and making sure Main Street storefronts stay open to help homeowners fund local taxes. Patricia Connor—who works at Say Cheese and Thank You in Irvington and was the owner of the Perfect Pair before it closed in 2008—said small business merchants are also more likely to invest in their local communities.

“When people support local businesses during any season, let alone the holiday season, that money ends up going right back into the community because you are helping to pay employees and that money spent inside the store helps generate business that allows us to keep our doors open,” said Connor. 

American Express is encouraging its customers to shop local on Saturday, Nov. 24 after Black Friday and before Cyber Monday for the third year in a row on Small Business Saturday. More than 100 million people came out to shop at independently owners small business during last year’s event. 

According to the U.S. Small Business Association, small businesses:

• make up 99.7 percent of U.S. employer firms
• make up 64 percent of new private-sector jobs
• make up 49.2 percent of private sector employment
• created 64 percent of new net jobs between 1993 and 2011 or 11.8 million of the 18.5 million new jobs
• led by those with 20 to 499 employees, created 67 percent of new net jobs during the recession between mid 2009- and 2011

The Andersonville Study of Retail Economic of Chicago, Illinois in October 2004 revealed that:

• for ever $100 spent at a local firm, $68 of it remained in the Chicago economy; compared to $43 that remains when spending with a chain firm
• For every square foot occupied by a local firm there is a $179 impact on the local economy; compared to $105 with a chain firm.

To get people into local stores and restaurants, American Express is encouraging local businesses to use their Small Business Saturday marketing tools, in addition to offering a $25 statement credit to customers who enroll and use their American Express card to spend $25 or more at a qualifying business on Nov. 24. Enrollment is limited, click here for details and here for list of participating businesses.

“With the economy and everything and the storms, small businesses are having a hard time staying open,” said Kimberly Pirro of All That Glitters in Irvington. “We really appreciate people shopping locally rather then go to the big stores so we can stay in businesses and keep the town thriving.”

Here’s a list of local businesses participating in Small Business Saturday:

• Rainwater Grill  (American/Italian restaurant)– 19 Main St., Hastings-on-Hudson (914) 479-1147; Open from 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.
• Forever Elegant (consignment shop) – 212 Ashford Ave., Dobbs Ferry (914) 674-5920; Open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• All That Glitters (fine and costume jewelry, repairs) – 59 Main St., Irvington (924) 591-2235; Open from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.; offering 20 % off on an item when you mention Small Business Saturday
• Nick’s Pizzeria and Restaurant – 106 Main St. Irvington (914) 479-5960; Open 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.
• Stolen Moments (musical instruments, lessons, event entertainment) – 39 Cedar St. Dobbs Ferry (914) 693-2309; open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Small Business Saturday; offering specials on guitar items and more
• Expressions (gift shop) – 549 Warburton Ave. Hastings-on-Hudson (914) 478-7278; Open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Say Cheese and Thank You  (stationary store and gift shop) - 63 Main St. Dobbs Ferry (914) 591-6277; Open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Suburban Renewal (antique store) – 1 Main St. Hastings-on-Hudson (914) 478-9421; open from 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.; offering 10-15% off all furniture, lamps, chairs and rockers, table and glassware (not including Fair Trade items and a few exceptions).

Are you a local business participating in Black Friday or Small Business Saturday? Tell us in the comments box below. 

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