What is Small Business Saturday?

It’s that time of year again. The holidays are here and so is Small Business Saturday. According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, Small Business Saturday is “a day to celebrate and support small businesses and all they do for their communities.” On November 26th, we celebrate small businesses by supporting them in any way we can.

Every year Small Business Saturday comes the day after Black Friday. Following Black Friday, Small Business Saturday is an ideal opportunity to support small businesses while browsing for holiday presents. Here is everything you need to know about this holiday and how you can support small businesses this Saturday.

Small Business Saturday has only existed for about 12 years now. It first began as a campaign for American Express on November 27, 2010, because the company wanted to encourage customers to purchase from small businesses. The next year, mayors, governors, senators, and President Obama all shared their support and it became an official holiday.

In 2012, American Express helped continue its campaign and promote the holiday by offering free personalized ads for small businesses. Small Business Saturday was a huge success that year—consumers spent an estimated $5.5 billion at small businesses from all over the country. That amount has increased dramatically over the years. For example, last year it was estimated that consumers spent about $23.3 billion on small businesses.

The pandemic has had positive and negative effects on Small Business Saturday. Some small businesses have gone out of business while others have been able to grow their business with online shopping. About 58% of customers made online purchases from small businesses last year. It is estimated that the number of purchases, including online purchases, will continue to increase.

Able IT Pros is dedicated to supporting small businesses with all of their technology needs. This Small Business Saturday we encourage you to support small businesses by remembering to purchase locally and spread the word about this important holiday.