NEWBERRY COUNTY — Now that the turkeys have been eaten and leftovers are in the freezer, it is time to move on to the next major holiday. No, not Christmas — it’s time for Small Business Saturday.
Small Business Saturday was created by American Express in 2010 to encourage people across the country to support small, local businesses.
Since its inaugural year, the popularity of the day has continued to grow. In 2011 The U.S. Senate unanimously passed a resolution of support for Small Business Saturday. The following year government officials in every state, from governors to mayors, championed Small Business Saturday.
Even President Barack Obama supported the day. Last year, a record 95 million people went out and shopped at small businesses.
The Newberry County Chamber of Commerce has been handing out Shop Small Saturday goodies to local businesses, said Michelle Long, executive director of the chamber.
Long said more business owners have taken advantage of the free goodies this year, and she hopes this will increase in the upcoming years.
“We will do this every year and participate in it. Of course we encourage everyone to shop small everyday, but especially on Saturday,” she said. “A lot of our local businesses will be open on Saturday, with extended hours and specials.”
Two Newberry businesses that will be open Saturday are The Gallery at 1104 Caldwell St. and Elizabeth’s on Main at 1216 Main St.
Meri Ellen Ringer, owner of The Gallery, said she is excited about Small Business Saturday this year.
“We will be open from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m., we are serving refreshments, gourmet samples, some general refreshments, and having some sales and having some giveaways, just to encourage people to shop small and support small businesses,” she said. “I am looking forward to seeing our regular customers and hopefully people that are visitors to the area that come in and support small businesses. It is always a fun time.”
Beth Hipp said Elizabeth’s on Main will be open from 10:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. She said they definitely have more people and more shopping on Small Business Saturday.
Both Hipp and Ringer agreed that Small Business Saturday has helped business.
“Shop Small helped us, drew more attention to the smaller businesses. When it came out, we definitely noticed an increase in business. I think Shop Small has really helped small businesses,” Ringer said.
Hipp added that the holiday season always picks up, but making people aware of small businesses in town has really helped.
“I think that it is always a challenge. People tend to think mall when they want to shop, instead of thinking local small businesses. We probably need more networking so people are aware of what businesses are in town, because they just do not know,” Hipp said. “Making people aware of small businesses has really helped.”
Long said another added bonus to shopping locally is that your taxes will stay local.
Liz MacDonald, administrator with the Chamber, added that shopping locally supports neighbors and friends in the county.
“It’s a wonderful program to keep people in the county,” she said.
Long added that businesses that are open will feel the effects.
“Just like if you are open when things are going on, people will wander in. It definitely increases your foot traffic, whether they intended to go in your shop or not, and this is everywhere, if you are in Whitmire, Prosperity, Little Mountain,” she said.
Long added that shoppers should try to eat locally as well, saying that most locally owned restaurants will be open Saturday.