The Acadia Parish Chamber of Commerce announced today that, as a member of the American Express® Neighborhood Champion Program, it will host an event as part of Small Business Saturday, which takes place on Nov 30. Nestled between Black Friday (that benefits many big box retailers) and Cyber Monday (where it’s all about online retailers), Small Business Saturday was created by American Express seven years ago in response to small business owners’ most pressing need – getting more customers during the busy holiday season.
This year’s celebration is the 10th Annual Small Business Saturday, marking a decade of support from American Express for local business owners. Since it started in 2010, consumers have reported spending an estimated $103 billion across all Small Business Saturdays combined. That’s $103 billion toward helping communities thrive, spent over just nine days alone.
In order to drive shoppers to Shop Small® this Nov 30, the Acadia Parish Chamber is participating in the American Express® Neighborhood Champion Program to spotlight small businesses and the impact they have on communities. An average two-thirds of every dollar ($0.67) spent at a small business in the U.S. stays in that local community.2 That means shopping small could help bring things like better schools, smoother roads, and new jobs to neighborhoods across the country.
Merchants and consumers can learn more about Small Business Saturday and how to get involved by visiting ShopSmall.com
Small Business Saturday Passports will be available this Saturday in all eighteen of our participating businesses listed below. With each stop, patrons will receive a stamp in their passport. When you visit six of our eighteen participating members, you will be entered into win one of eight $25 Chamber Cash certificates.
Participating Acadia Parish businesses:
Antiques on the Avenue // 25% off purchase
Boutique Forty-Six // $10 Off Every $50 Spent + $10 Joggers
CAKEBAR
Cramer Equipment & Supply Co. // 25% off all toys + Web-Rider Swing $85.99 / Reg $114.99 + 20% off Christmas décor + Bogo select Cinch shirts + select camo extremely discounted
Gail’s Gifts // 25% Off Storewide excluding Elf on the Shelf
Huval’s Boot & Shoe Repair // 25% off storewide excluding select footwear
Impact Nutrition // $5 Smoothies + Every $10 spent you will be entered into a raffle for a $50 gift card, t-shirt + shaker bottle.
Indigo Blue // 15% off Gift Cards
Louisiana Church Interiors // 20% off Storewide
Nestled & Company // 20% Off Storewide – excluding Doorbuster Items
Poise & Personality // 25% off Storewide
Puddles & Lace // 30% off all in-stock pajamas including Kickee
Ray’s Gifts & Interiors
Rice City Designs // 40% Off Wall art, blank shirts + pajamas + Same day pajama embroidering
Ruddock’s Bakery
Salvador’s Jewelers & Gifts // Pre-Christmas Sale, 25%-70% Off
The Hope Chest // 20% Off Custom Tables
The Vanilla Bean // 10% off Purchase + $1 Small Hot Chocolate
Just in case you’re not convinced to #ShopSmall this Thanksgiving weekend, here are ten compelling reasons why you should:
- Small businesses provide 55% of all jobs and 66% of all net new jobs since the 1970s.
- More of your spending dollar stays in the local economy. When you shop local, you impact the community in which you live. A recent study revealed roughly 68 percent of revenue from small, local businesses is reinvested into a community; so for every $100 spent at your neighborhood restaurant or boutique, $68 returns to our community.
- 77% of shoppers who are aware of Small Business Saturday plan to shop next weekend. You’re already out. Why not visit a small business?
- The average cost of filling a 500 foot, mid-sized retail store nets out to $20,000, so the day-to-day costs to keep the items you care about is significant above and beyond startup costs. Want your local gift shop to keep stocking your favorites? Support them this weekend to encourage them to do so.
- Small businesses are exceptional places to work, and often pave the way with trends adopted at larger institutions, as well.
- Small businesses bring people to our communities.
- Shopping small means you are supporting those businesses that are supporting you and your community. These businesses support our schools, our non-profits and our cities. Small business owners are the lifeblood of this community, this state and this country.
- You can find unique, hand-made items with outstanding craftsmanship.
- You can talk directly to the business owner who is an expert in their craft.
- On the first Small Business Saturday, revenues for Small Businesses grew 28%, so what may seem like a small expense to you has a huge impact on a business owner.
The Acadia Parish Chamber of Commerce recognizes the importance of supporting small businesses to create wealth and opportunity in our communities. Let’s all do our part to support Acadia Parish’s small businesses as they continue to strengthen our economy and create jobs.
Be part of Small Business Saturday 2019 and Shop Local!
