 Small Business Saturday Encourages Consumers To Keep It Local
Dedham, MA – November 26th marks the second annual “Small Business Saturday”, a nationwide campaign to raise awareness about the importance of supporting our country’s small businesses that create jobs, boost the economy and preserve neighborhoods around the country. Small Business Saturday (SBS) was created in 2010 by American Express in response to small business owners' most pressing need: creating more demand for their products and services.
Dedham Square businesses are gearing up for what they hope to be a busy weekend as it is traditionally the unofficial start to holiday season shopping. “The concept behind Small Business Saturday is what we’ve been promoting since Dedham Square Circle was started over five years ago,” said Amy Haelsen, Executive Director of the Dedham Square Circle . “Supporting our small independently owned businesses is important for a number of reasons, perhaps most importantly is that when money is spent at a local business, a larger percentage of it stays right here in our community.”
According to the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Main Street Program, of which Dedham Square Circle is a member and whose approach to downtown revitalization it follows, 60 cents of every dollar spent in an independently owned business, like the majority of those in the Square, is retained or recirculated in the same community. Just one-third of that, 20 cents of every dollar, remains in a community when it is spent at a chain store.
“Making a decision to patronize the independently owned shops and restaurants in the Square – and throughout Dedham - makes a big difference in the long run,” said Haelsen. “By purchasing holiday gifts, dining and seeking services from small businesses, you are not only supporting the hard-working businesses which support our local schools and community organizations, but you're also supporting our own local economy,” said Haelsen. “ Put simply, choosing to spend your money at small local businesses is actually making an investment in our community.”
There is an added incentive to spend money at small businesses during Small Business Saturday. American Express Cardholders get a one-time $25 statement credit from American Express when they use their registered or linked American Express Card on November 26th to make a purchase of $25 or more at a small business. Click here to register your card:
Over 20 businesses in the Square accept American Express including: Armando Cassano Salon Blue Bunny Books & Toys Courthouse Cigar Courtyard Florist Dedham Bike The Dedham Exchange Dedham Flower Shoppe The Dedham Square Artist Guild Deli After Dark Heart of the Square Isabella Kikuyama Kouzina Estiatorio Maribu nest Salem Food Market Salon 561 SheepSkate Vincenzo's
Wardle's
More About Small Business Saturday
A total of 1.5 million Facebook users, 130 public and private organizations, and 41 elected officials declared their support for SBS last year. More than 100,000 small businesses downloaded SBS marketing materials, 10,000 businesses signed up for free Facebook advertising that ran on SBS, and 200,000 consumers registered their American Express cards to receive $25 statement credits when they shopped at a small business on SBS. Small retailers who accept the American Express Card saw a 28% increase in sales on SBS when compared to the Saturday after Thanksgiving in 2009. Participation in all of these areas is expected to increase this year.
About Dedham Square Circle
Founded in 2006, the Dedham Square Circle is a non-profit volunteer driven organization committed to invigorating Dedham Square by increasing its economic prosperity, promoting its rich history, arts and culture, and aesthetically enhancing the Square’s physical environment to benefit the entire community. For more information about their efforts, including their collaboration with the Town on the Dedham Square Improvement Project, visit www.dedhamsquarecircle.org.
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