Small Business Saturday is November 25

Texarkana, TX - November 24, 2017 (The Ponder News) -- On Saturday, November 25, in support of a national movement in celebrating Small Business Saturday, to recognize the strength, value and importance imparted by locally owned small businesses to their communities and the state, The Ponder is encouraging citizens to visit their local mom and pop stores.

Sandwiched between the holiday shopping trends of “Black Friday” and “Cyber Monday,” the Small Business Saturday observation also follows Thanksgiving and gives people an appropriate time and place to give special thanks and patronage for the state’s small businesses.

“As the holiday shopping season commences this weekend, I hope all Louisianans will participate in Small Business Saturday and support small businesses throughout the state,” said Gov. John Bel Edwards of Louisiana. “Small businesses are the backbone of our economy, and they do so much to showcase the skills, talent and culture that can only be found in Louisiana. It is important that we acknowledge the tremendous contributions our small businesses owners and their staffs make throughout the year, and supporting Small Business Saturday is a sincere way to express our thanks and gratitude for all they do to better our state.”

According to the National Retail Federation, an estimated 154 million shoppers made consumer purchases during Thanksgiving weekend in 2016. Such retail activity supports the nearly 93,000 small business retail jobs in Louisiana. In particular, Small Business Saturday encourages shoppers to make a larger percentage of their purchases at those locally owned, independent business, thus helping those enterprises thrive in a competitive economy.

“When Louisianans participate in Small Business Saturday, they strengthen their local economies by supporting local businesses and keeping the dollars they spend within the state,” said Secretary Don Pierson of Louisiana Economic Development. Louisiana small businesses account for the majority of jobs in our state. We encourage Louisianans to shop at small businesses to support their friends and neighbors, as well as the strength and employment of their communities.”

In Louisiana, small businesses make up over 97 percent of the state’s employers. More than 910,000 Louisiana residents are employed by small businesses, collectively accounting for 53 percent of all private-sector jobs in the state. In October 2017, Louisiana earned an A+ grade in Thumbtack’s report card on small business friendliness, ranking the state No. 4 in the U.S. – a testament to Louisiana’s commitment to support an economic climate in which small businesses can grow and thrive.

“Small Business Saturday is about supporting local businesses and creating jobs in communities all across America,” said Linda McMahon, Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration. “Shopping small this Saturday is the perfect opportunity for Americans to support their local community businesses and promote growth and vitality to America’s booming economy during this holiday season and throughout the coming year.”

This year marks the eighth Small Business Saturday, an annual celebration of America’s small business community. Last year on Small Business Saturday, an estimated 112 million Americans spent a combined $15.4 billion at independent neighborhood retailers and restaurants.

“Small businesses are the engine of our national economy. We now have in the United States about 30 million small businesses. About half of all American workers are either employed by a small business or own a small business. And two out of three new jobs are created by small business. Those are pretty powerful and compelling statistics,” said McMahon.

“One of my goals in leading the U.S. Small Business Administration is to revitalize a sense of entrepreneurship in America. We want entrepreneurs to feel confident taking a risk on starting or expanding their small businesses. Everyone wants businesses to grow and for people to be employed. Shopping small on November 25 supports these men and women who create the foundation for strong, successful small businesses.”