NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--As small business owners across the nation gear up for Small Business Saturday, a record number of shoppers are making plans to support their favorite local businesses. According to the fourth-annual Small Business Saturday Consumer Insights Survey, released today by the National Federation of Independent Businesses (NFIB) and American Express, supporting local small businesses continues to be a priority for shoppers nationwide.
Small Business Saturday was created by American Express in 2010 as a response to small business owners’ most pressing need: getting more customers. Held on the Saturday following Thanksgiving, Small Business Saturday helps rally communities to support local businesses. As Small Business Saturday enters its sixth year, 55 percent of U.S. consumers report they are aware of the day – the highest figure yet recorded – and even more encouraging, 83 percent say Small Business Saturday inspires them to Shop Small all year long.
“Small Business Saturday is a major part of the holiday shopping tradition, and has become a celebration of the local small business owners that we call friends, neighbors and family,” said Janey Whiteside, Senior Vice President and General Manager of American Express OPEN. “We’re immensely proud to be a founding partner of Small Business Saturday, and it is gratifying to see how it has become the movement that it is today.”
“Small Business Saturday has grown every year and it's been a big boost to Main Street America,” said NFIB CEO and President Dan Danner. “We are very proud to partner with American Express once again this year to promote an event that connects American consumers with their hometown businesses.”
Additional findings from the Small Business Saturday Consumer Insights Survey include:
- 80% of consumers are willing to pay slightly more for an item if it is purchased from a small, independently-owned retailer as opposed to online or at a large retailer
- On average, consumers are planning to do 35% of their holiday shopping at small businesses
- 45% of consumers who expect to shop on the day plan to spend more on Small Business Saturday this year than they spent last year
- Almost two-thirds (64%) of consumers who plan to shop on Small Business Saturday are motivated by the contributions that small businesses make to their community
Community Involvement Grows; Additional Activities Provide Shopping Experiences Throughout the Day
Part of what helps make Small Business Saturday a success is the Small Business Saturday Coalition, which helps rally communities to Shop Small on November 28th. The Coalition was created in 2011 and is led by Women Impacting Public Policy (WIPP). The Coalition is comprised of national, state and local associations that help coordinate Shop Small activities with merchants, consumers and small business owners.
Another important group that drives Small Business Saturday activities is Neighborhood Champions, which is comprised of small businesses, business associations, local Chambers of Commerce, and other community organizers. To date, more than 3,500 Neighborhood Champions – an increase of 26 percent from 2,786 in 2014 – have signed up to plan local community activities leading up to and on the day.
In order to bring the Shop Small message to an even wider audience, American Express will work with the following organizations to highlight the variety of local businesses that make our communities unique:
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Well+Good
Well+Good, a wellness media company, will help Small Business Saturday reach a new segment of businesses in the health and wellness space by spotlighting boutique fitness studio owners in cities across the U.S. Event locations include independently-owned studios in Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York and San Francisco. -
Cherry Bombe
Cherry Bombe, an independent magazine about women and food, will spotlight the importance of frequenting independent restaurants, cafes and coffee shops on Small Business Saturday. Events will consist of a breakfast in Chicago, a pie party in Brooklyn, and a dinner in Oakland. To amplify these events and Small Business Saturday, Cherry Bombe will create shopping guides of top independent places to dine and shop in each of the three markets. -
Record Store Day
Record Store Day (RSD), an organization created to celebrate the unique culture surrounding nearly 1,400 record stores in the U.S., will coordinate special events and performances at independently-owned record stores nationwide. A sample of events include:- An album release by Ian Karmel at Music Millennium in Portland, OR
- New album release from hip-hop artist Spose at Bull Moose in Portland, ME
- Performance from My Goodness at Silver Platters in Seattle, WA
- Performance from Third Eye Blind at Dimple Records in Sacramento, CA
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Street Art
Working with Juxtapoz, the monthly magazine that covers contemporary art, American Express commissioned #ShopSmall murals in neighborhoods across the country. Artists in twenty markets will create works that express and bring to life the special qualities of their local communities, engaging the support of local businesses that embody the vibrancy of the neighborhoods. American Express is also collaborating with 1xRUN, a Detroit-based publisher of fine art editions. For Small Business Saturday, 1xRUN will be working with Seattle-based painter Mary Iverson to publish a fine art print that illustrates how her art career functions as a small business.
Show Your Love for Small Businesses on Social Media
Social media and word of mouth are invaluable tools for raising awareness of small businesses and the Shop Small Movement in general. To become part of the nationwide conversation this year and show support for Small Business Saturday, consumers and small businesses are encouraged to show their love for their favorite independent businesses leading up to and on Small Business Saturday by using the #ShopSmall hashtag on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
Also new this year, Facebook is creating custom Small Business Saturday content for consumers and small business owners. One example is the official Small Business Saturday Facebook event, which will help shoppers mark their calendars and share their plans with family and friends. Additionally, by visiting the “Facebook for Business” blog post, small businesses can learn more about how Facebook can help market their businesses on Small Business Saturday.
Official Supporters of Small Business Saturday
In addition to the relationships listed above, American Express has enlisted the support of many companies who have signed on as Official Supporters. Together these companies reach millions of small business customers and consumers and are key players in the retail, telecom, media, hospitality, transportation, and professional services industries. Some of the medium and large-sized companies that will be participating include FedEx, Sam’s Club, AT&T, Hertz, Eventbrite and Etsy.
About the Survey
The
Small Business Saturday Consumer Insights Survey was conducted among a
nationally representative sample of 1,847 males and females 18 years of
age or older. The sample was collected using an email invitation and an
online survey. The study was conducted anonymously by independent
marketing performance specialist Ebiquity on October 19-27, 2015. The
survey has an overall margin of error of +/- 2.3%, at the 95% level of
confidence.
About Small Business Saturday
November
28th marks the sixth annual Small Business Saturday, a day
dedicated to supporting the local businesses that can help create jobs,
boost the economy and preserve neighborhoods around the country. Small
Business Saturday was created by American Express in 2010 in response to
small business owners’ most pressing need: more customers.
About NFIB
NFIB is the
nation’s leading small
business association, with offices in Washington, D.C., and all 50
states. Founded in 1943 as a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, NFIB
gives small and independent business owners a voice in shaping the
public policy issues that affect their business. NFIB’s powerful network
of grassroots activists sends their views directly to state and federal
lawmakers through its unique member-only ballot, thus playing a critical
role in supporting America’s free enterprise system. NFIB’s mission is
to promote and protect the right of its members to own, operate and grow
their businesses. More information about NFIB is available online at www.NFIB.com/newsroom.
