Ivey proclaims Small Business Saturday

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November 23, 2018

Small Business Saturday is upon us in Alabama, with people encouraged to shop local.

Governor Kay Ivey has signed the formal proclamation declaring November 24 as Small Business Saturday in the Yellowhammer State. The annual occasion is designed to celebrate and support small businesses and the impact they have on Alabama communities.

According to the latest figures from the U.S. Small Business Administration, small businesses (those that have less than 500 employees) account for 99.4 percent of all businesses in the state and employ 47.5 percent of Alabama’s private sector workforce.

“Small businesses are one of the key drivers behind our recent economic success. They serve as the centerpiece for most cities and towns across this state,” Ivey said in a press release.

The governor continued, “When you shop local, you have the opportunity to develop relationships with business owners in your community and many of them offer unique products and services that you simply can’t get online or at department stores. I encourage all Alabamians to visit their local main street, curb market, or favorite restaurant and shop local on Small Business Saturday and throughout the year.”

This year marks the eighth anniversary of Small Business Saturday, which is traditionally held the Saturday following Thanksgiving as holiday shopping gets going.

Rosemary Elebash, National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) Alabama state director, explained, “Shopping on Small Business Saturday has become a tradition. When you shop local with family owned small businesses, you are helping your town to have steady economic growth. Family owned small businesses provide jobs, sales tax revenue to fund schools, infrastructure and a good quality of life for their friends, neighbors and citizens of their community.”

According to a survey by NFIB and American Express, 108 million shoppers spent $12.9 billion at independently owned businesses on 2017’s Small Business Saturday. The survey said 43 percent of American adults shopped or ate small on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, and this year they expect to surpass that.