Where Did YOU Shop Locally Today?

A July, 2011 national survey by American Express found that consumers say that about one-third of their discretionary spending is with independent local businesses.  Here are some more stats to get you to open your wallet:

Fifty-nine percent of respondents to a 2010 Intuit survey said they spend at least $100 a month at small businesses.  Ninety percent of the survey respondents said that small businesses are vital to the community and 65 percent wanted more small businesses in the area.

For every $100 spent in a locally owned independent business, $68 is returned to the community through taxes, payroll, and other operating expenses.

If just half the U.S. employed population spent $50 each week in a locally owned independent business, more than $42.6 billion in revenue would be generated. 

So, where did YOU shop locally today?

(Sources:  American Express, Intuit, The 3/50 Project, The Sacramento Bee, Sacramento Business Journal) 

Shop Small!

“Small Business Saturday” is today, November 27! 

Remember to support your locally-owned, independent stores that contribute to our local economy and the diversity of our community.

“Small Business Saturday” is a national movement launched by American Express OPEN, the division devoted to small business owners and associations.  They found that small businesses were impacted more by the recession than larger businesses and are still 4 percent below their pre-recession market share (according to The Huffington Post, 11/16/10). 

Yet small businesses have generated 60 to 80 percent of net new jobs each year over the last decade.  And for every $100 spent in a locally-owned, independent store, $68 is returned to the community through taxes, payroll, and other operating expenses (according to The 3/50 Project).

So now that you have the statistics, what are you waiting for?
Go out and Shop Small today!