By Brandon Moseley
Alabama Political Reporter
Tuesday, Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey signed a proclamation formally declaring November 25 as Small Business Saturday in Alabama. Small Business Saturday is designed to celebrate and support small businesses and the impact it has on Alabama communities. The Friday after Thanksgiving, historically, is the largest shopping day of the year, but most of that business goes to big box stores.
“Small Business Saturday is a wonderful opportunity for Alabamians to support local businesses on the first Saturday after Thanksgiving,” Ivey said. “Small businesses have long been recognized as the economic engine for job growth, economic stability and preserving neighborhoods across Alabama and the nation.”
“Small Business Saturday shopping continues to increase each year and is achieving the goal of showcasing the importance of Main Street businesses to the local community,” Ivey said. “Please join me and other Alabamians in shopping on Small Business Saturday.”
Rosemary Elebash, state director for the National Federation of Independent Business, chairs the Alabama Small Business Commission and attended the proclamation signing.
“Embracing Small Business Saturday gives Alabamians a chance to show their appreciation to Alabama’s essential job creators by shopping in their local communities, eating at their restaurants and using locally owned service businesses,” Elebash said. “When you shop on Main Street, most of the money stays in the local community. We’re extremely pleased by the success of Small Business Saturday, but we’re more excited by the growing commitment among Alabamians to give small businesses a chance to compete all year round. Start a new habit by shopping at least weekly with a locally owned business beginning with the celebration of the 2017 Small Business Saturday.”
This year marks the 7th anniversary of Small Business Saturday.
Millions crowd the big box stores on Black Friday – historically the day that retailers make so much money that it pays for operating at below break even the previous 46 weeks of the year. Today, more and more of that business is going online to Amazon, Wal-mart.com or other retailer websites. There is no reason to get in a fist fight over $5 flannel shirts at 10 p.m. on Thursday at Wal-Mart or that marked down set of power tools at the Home Depot before dawn on Friday. Just order it online and skip the lines, the fights, the limited inventory and all the stress; then go shop at your local small business on Saturday before the Iron Bowl.
