Opinion Give Alabama’s small businesses a place on your holiday shopping list

Some people are easy to shop for. Others can leave you wandering the aisles or scrolling online, hoping you’ll find something to put under the tree.

But here’s a tip: Shop small. If you shop at a local business, you might find something you hadn’t thought of, and you’ll definitely help the community.

That’s why it’s important to support local shops and restaurants on Small Business Saturday.

Small Business Saturday is November 28, the Saturday after Thanksgiving. It’s a chance to see what Alabama’s local shops and restaurants have to offer and support the people who serve our communities throughout the year.

A neighborhood store might carry pottery made nearby, handmade jewelry or treats from a family recipe. A local restaurant can offer gift cards or help with a holiday meal.

Those choices can make a gift feel more personal. So can the help you get along the way.

When you have questions about a product, it helps to talk with someone who knows it well. At a small business, that person may well be the owner, the person who chose every item on the shelf and has a personal stake in making sure you’re happy with your purchase. They can explain your options, help you find the right size or suggest something you might have missed.

As Alabama state director of the National Federation of Independent Business, I hear from owners who work hard to earn that trust. They have put their savings, time and energy into their businesses. They know customers have choices, and they want to give you a reason to come back.

Their business also helps people beyond the customers at the counter.

Small businesses hire our neighbors. The wages they pay help families buy groceries, cover rent and pay other bills. Owners also pay numerous taxes that help support schools, roads and public services.

And local businesses often depend on one another.

A florist may turn to a nearby auto shop to keep a delivery van running. That shop may hire a local bookkeeper and buy logo shirts from a small printing business. Your purchase can help support a whole circle of people working close to home.

We see those ties in other ways, too. Small businesses sponsor ball teams, donate items for school fundraisers and help local causes. Their stores and restaurants give neighbors places to meet and make downtowns feel like home.

That’s why shopping small matters beyond the holiday season.

A busy Saturday can give an owner a welcome boost, but one busy weekend isn’t enough to keep a small business going. For a neighborhood shop or restaurant, every sale helps cover the cost of keeping the doors open.

Congress can give small businesses one less thing to worry about. A federal rule now exempts businesses formed in the U.S. from beneficial ownership information reporting, which requires certain companies to tell the government who owns or controls them. The law behind that requirement, the Corporate Transparency Act, is still on the books. My organization, the National Federation of Independent Business, is asking Congress to repeal it so the filing requirement can’t return for U.S. businesses under that law.

Here at home, one of the best things we can do is keep coming back. Steady sales help local owners plan ahead, keep people working and serve their customers year-round.

A shop you discover in November could become your first stop for a birthday gift in March or an anniversary present in June. A restaurant you try during the holidays could become a regular place to meet friends. Keep local florists, bakeries and repair services in mind when you need them, too.

Shopping locally can also fit a busy schedule. Before you assume you can’t make it to a store, check its website or call. It may offer online ordering, delivery or pickup.

And you don’t have to spend more to help a business you like. Tell a friend, leave an honest review or share a social media post. Your recommendation could bring someone through the door for the first time.

This Small Business Saturday, let a local owner help you make progress on your gift list. Visit a store you haven’t tried, return to a favorite or take a break for lunch at an independent restaurant.

Then give those businesses a place in your plans after the holidays. When we find good value and good service close to home, coming back benefits our families and our communities.