Small business weekend starts Saturday

Resolution for Small Business Weekend
encourages shopping on “Main Street”

In just the two years since it's creation by American Express, Small Business Saturday has become a popular annual event. Falling between Black Friday and Cyber Monday, the idea was to encourage consumers to shop at their local small businesses during the holiday season.

The Massachusetts House of Representative approved a resolution last year establishing the Saturday and Sunday after Thanksgiving as Small Business Weekend.

State Representative Peter J. Durant (R-Spencer), a member of the Small Business Caucus and a co-sponsor of Small Business Weekend said, “The purpose of the resolution was to recognize the important economic role and positive impacts small business has on our communities and to encourage shopping at 'Main Street' local businesses,”

Not only do local businesses tend to employ local people, butfor every $100 spent with locally owned, independent stores, $68 returns to the community through local taxes, payroll, and other expenditures.

Durant believes that a public awareness campaign will help increase revenue for local businesses, which will in turn help increase employment opportunities.

“If we want to put people back to work, we need to support our local businesses and encourage future entrepreneurs.” Durant said. “Promoting Small Business Weekend will help educate the public as to how vital small business is to our state’s economic outlook and hopefully motivate them to shop locally all year long,”