MORE SO THAN EVER, SHOPPERS PLANNING TO VISIT A SMALL BUSINESS THIS WEEKEND

MORE SO THAN EVER, SHOPPERS PLANNING TO VISIT A SMALL BUSINESS THIS WEEKEND

MORE SO THAN EVER, SHOPPERS PLANNING TO VISIT A SMALL
BUSINESS THIS WEEKEND

DES
MOINES (November 23, 2015)–As small business
owners across the nation gear up for Small Business Saturday this week, 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 by the
National Federation of Independent Businesses (NFIB) and American Express, supporting local small businesses continues to
be a priority for shoppers nationwide.

“Every year we see people jumping up from the Thanksgiving
table and running into big box stores to fight over electronics before the oven
has even cooled off. People are finally wising up to the absurd concept and
realizing that using small businesses for holiday shopping is a much more
civilized experience,” According to Kristin
Failor, NFIB Iowa state
director.

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 has become a major part of the holiday shopping tradition, as
community members celebrate local small business owners by patronizing their
places of businesses the Saturday after Thanksgiving,” continued Failor. “The day is dedicated to increasing awareness of the
hard working small business owners that are just around the corner from our
homes.”

 

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

 

“The results of this year’s survey are promising and our
members are certainly gearing up for a very busy weekend this weekend. Shopping small, especially during the holiday season has become a true community wide event,”
Concluded Failor.