While feeling fa la la la festive this holiday season, consider supporting Oklahoma’s hard working small businesses. According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, Oklahoma’s small businesses employ 51.7% of the workforce. Shop Small Saturday was created to highlight local businesses during the hustle and bustle of the holidays and help grow your local economies by supporting your neighborhood businesses. Your support helps locally-owned retailers keep their doors open, as well as provide jobs and open the door to increased business development in your community.
Wait, there’s more, along with employing over half of Oklahoma’s workforce, locally-owned small businesses contribute to the local community in other ways.
Retailers in your community are interested in seeing your community thrive, just like you. Many local business owners are passionate about giving back to their community. They donate a larger portion of their profits back into the local community than big-box stores.
Also, while you are thinking locally owned and operated, think about your financial institution. Many locally-owned and operated financial institutions put priority on contributing to their communities.
Local small businesses sell goods and services that you might not be able to find anywhere else. Some even use local artists to produce one-of-a-kind things, like candles, pictures, cards or art, for example, to keep consumers coming back. Some vendors choose not to sell their products to large retailers because they started as a local small shop and want to support other local small shops.
As a customer of a small business, you are special and might receive special treatment. Small businesses need your business to remain a thriving part of the community, and they can sometimes do things for you that larger stores might not be able to do. When the employees get to know you, they will remember your name, preferences and aim to please.
This holiday season don’t forget that when you shop local, you are helping many people in your community, as well as getting unique items. Small shops can offer great one-of-a-kind gifts that you can’t find anywhere else, along with wonderful service. Consider local business offerings and everything they do for your community when you are making your list and checking it twice.
