Small Business Saturday – Why It’s So Important To Shop Small In Our Digital World

I’ll be the first to admit I do most of my shopping online. I have an Amazon Prime account — I even buy my groceries on a computer. But both of my parents own their own business and I know how important it is to give back to your community. Here’s why you need to shop on Small Business Saturday.

Small Business Saturday is November 26th, 2016 and it’s so important to give back.

I live in New York City where small businesses are few and far between, surrounded by chain coffee shops and big box drugstores. I can get anything and everything delivered — dinner, wine, groceries, batteries — and it’s so easy to forget that small businesses depend on us — they depend on you.

Growing up in Maine, my father owned a hardware store and my mother owned a fabric store. Their flexible schedules gave me a privileged life of being driven to ice skating lessons at all hours and a private high school 30 miles away.

When we had a snow day or a sick day, we could spend precious family time together, something that matters to me even more now that I live in New York and they still live in Maine.

Small Business Saturday was launched in 2010 by American Express but it’s become so much more than a credit card incentive — it really matters to families.

In this uncertain political climate, small businesses depend on this boost in income, especially during the holiday season.

Shop American Express Gift Cards To Shop Small

There are so many ways to get involved — go into a small town and give back. Shop small boutiques for holiday presents, eat lunch at a family-owned restaurant or get your hair cut by your local hairdresser — you can look good while feeling good!

You can also still help by shopping online, at sites like Etsy, or Shoptiques, a shopping website built on 5,000 small businesses!

Shoptiques even gave us an EXCLUSIVE savings code for Saturday — 10% off any purchase, code SBS10. They have super cute dresses from the best fashion boutiques from around the country!

As convenient as 2-day shipping is, it can be much more satisfying to pick up something with your own hands, pay a hard-working person (who may have actually made that item), and walk out of the store with it, knowing you’ve made a difference.

HollywoodLifers, are you going to shop small on Small Business Saturday?