This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Health & Fitness

"Shop Small" and Support Small Businesses on November 30th

Small businesses are the cornerstone of any community, creating jobs, spurring local economic growth, and giving back to society. In recent years, small businesses have been overshadowed by the holiday hype of “Black Friday” and “Cyber Monday,” which tend to emphasis major retailers. But small businesses have much to offer for holiday shoppers!

For the fourth year in a row, Better Business Bureau is supporting Small Business Saturday and urging consumers to support the small businesses in their communities on November 30th, the Saturday after Thanksgiving. It’s the perfect time to take a break from the crowded shopping mall and instead check out the small stores and businesses in your neighborhood. You’ll find unique gifts, gourmet foods and more to make your holidays distinctive, fresh and fun. You might even discover your new favorite store!

2012 was a huge year for Small Business Saturday. Consumer awareness reached a reported 67% and an estimated $5.5 billion was spent at small, independently owned retailers, according to American Express OPEN, which launched SBS. Since Small Business Saturday was born in 2010 and officially recognized by the U.S. Senate in 2011, the once little-known campaign has become a movement that millions of individuals, businesses, and communities have embraced nationwide.

Find out what's happening in Sharonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

With your help, Small Business Saturday could be even bigger this year. Get involved by helping your community prepare, promoting your local businesses, and encouraging your friends and family to “Shop Small.” And don’t forget to go out and shop at your local businesses on November 30th! The more businesses and shoppers that get involved, the bigger and more beneficial the day will be for local communities.

Resources:

Find out what's happening in Sharonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Businesses can take advantage of free tools offered online atfacebook.com/SmallBusinessSaturday: free signage, free ads on Twitter, and lots of ideas to help grow your business

For more information on Small Business Saturday, visitsmallbusinesssaturday.com

For BBB Business Reviews on millions of businesses – large and small – and for more consumer information you can trust, visit bbb.org

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?